Fruits

Suggested

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 15, 2026

Suggested2 studies

Regular fruit consumption may lower lung cancer risk significantly

Two case-control studies totaling approximately 1,113 participants link higher fruit intake to reduced lung cancer risk. An Iranian case-control study (242 patients, 484 controls) found fruit consumption was the only food group with a significant inverse trend against lung cancer (Ptrend < 0.0001) in multivariate analysis adjusting for confounders. A nested case-control from the Basel Prospective Study (129 cancer deaths, 258 controls, 4,224-person cohort) demonstrated consistently lower plasma vitamin C levels across cancer cases, with below-average citrus fruit consumption corresponding to the lowest vitamin C values. Both studies support a protective role for fruits, likely through antioxidant mechanisms including vitamin C. Incorporating a variety of fruits, particularly citrus, into daily diet represents a practical dietary strategy for lung cancer risk reduction.

Evidence

Cancer, Vitamins, and Plasma Lipids: Prospective Basel Study

Authors: Brubacher, Georges, Buess, Eduard, Rösel, Fritz, Stähelin, Hannes B.

Published: August 2, 2017

Among 129 cancer deaths matched to 258 controls in the Basel Prospective Study cohort (4,224 men, 1971-1980 follow-up), plasma vitamin C was consistently lower across all cancer site cases compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Below-average citrus fruit consumption corresponded with the lowest vitamin C values, observed particularly in stomach cancer cases. The nested case-control design drew from the second follow-up examination (1971-73) with average follow-up periods of 3.7 to 4.9 years until death.

View Source →

Nutrition and lung cancer: a case control study in Iran

Authors: A-S Keck, AB Miller, AJ Cross, Ali Moghadas Jafari, AM Tarrazo-Antelo, B Tudek, C Galeone, CH MacLean, CL Prosser, D Feskanich, DO Edem, E De Stefani, E Riboli, Esmaeil Mortaz, FB Hu, Forouzan Mohammadi, H Skuladottir, H Skuladottir, HK Biesalski, J Akan, JC van der Pols, JM Cook-Mills, JW Lampe, Kian Khodadad, L Kutikova, LB Link, LC Yong, M Garcia, M Hosseini, Mahmoud Yousefifard, Makan Sadr, Mansour Rezaei, MJ Roth, Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Mostafa Hosseini, MR Masjedi, N Tasevska, P Brennan, P Brennan, Parisa Adimi Naghan, PD Schneider, PW Parodi, R Rani, R Sinha, RA Breslow, RA Smith, S Berdnikovs, S Chang, Shervin Taslimi, T Takezaki, TJ Key, TJ Smith, VI Sayin, WC Willett

Published: January 1, 2014

In a case-control study of 242 lung cancer patients and 484 matched controls in Iran (matched on age, sex, and residence), fruit consumption was a significant protective factor against lung cancer in multivariate conditional logistic regression (Ptrend < 0.0001). Fruits were the only food group showing a significant inverse trend with lung cancer risk (P < 0.0001). Middle and upper third consumers were compared to lower third consumers based on control distribution.

View Source →