A recent scientific study published in the Journal of the Therapeutic Service (JTO) showed that the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area may increase the risk of lung cancer, through a mechanism that weakens the body’s natural immune system.
The researchers analyzed data from 1,170 current and former smokers. The sample included 576 patients with stage 1 and 2 non-small cell lung cancer, and a similar group of high-risk individuals who underwent early detection screenings.
Instead of relying on the traditional body mass index, the scientists assessed the amount of fat in the abdominal area of the participants using computed tomography (CT) scans, and the results showed that large amounts of visceral (abdominal) fat are closely associated with a higher likelihood of developing lung cancer.
Further analysis revealed a possible reason for this relationship, as they found that the lungs of obese people contained larger numbers of regulatory T cells, which are immune cells that suppress the anti-tumor immune system's activity. It was noted that the cells responsible for eliminating emerging cancer cells were less effective in those with fat accumulation in the abdominal area.
The researchers point out that previous studies had suggested that a high body mass index (BMI) might reduce the risk of lung cancer, but the new study confirms that BMI does not always reflect the true amount of dangerous fat, and that measuring the amount of fat in the abdominal area is a much more accurate indicator for assessing health risks.
A large-scale medical study based on data obtained from the UK Biobank also showed that people who consistently follow a Mediterranean diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and red meat have a 34% lower risk of developing lung cancer compared to others, and a 39% lower risk of dying from this type of cancer.
