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Healthy Diet May Be Linked to Lower Risk of Lung Disease
Consuming less red meat, soda and alcohol tied to lower COPD threat study
“The predominant risk factor for COPD in the developed world is cigarette smoking,” said study lead author Raphaelle Varraso, a researcher with the unit of aging and chronic diseases at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Villejuif, France.
“But up to one-third of COPD patients have never smoked, suggesting that other factors are involved,” Varraso said. “This novel finding supports the importance of diet in COPD [development].”
The study was published online Feb. 3 in
The finding builds on a wide body of prior research suggesting that a healthy diet lowers the risk for heart disease and cancer. And good eating habits seem to lower COPD risk for both smokers and nonsmokers alike, the researchers found.
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an umbrella term for several chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and bronchitis, that lead to blocked air passages and restricted oxygen flow. Routine breathing can be difficult and painful for someone with COPD — the third leading cause of death in America, according to the American Lung Association.
By the end of each study’s time frame, 723 women and 167 men developed COPD. The subsequent analysis indicated that COPD risk was far lower among those whose diets were light on red meat, sweetened drinks and alcohol, and rich in vegetables, complex carbohydrates such as green vegetables and whole grains, and polyunsaturated fats and nuts.
Polyunsaturated fats include soybean, safflower, corn and canola oils, and fish such as salmon, trout and herring.
The finding that a healthy diet was independently related to lower COPD risk appeared to hold up even after accounting for other factors, including smoking history, age, race, exercise habits and being overweight.
Nevertheless, Varraso cautioned against concluding that diet has a direct impact on COPD risk, given that the study participants were medical professionals with a presumably greater focus on health and healthy behavior than the general public. However, the findings underscore the need for more research into how eating patterns affect lung health, Varraso suggested.
“Although COPD prevention efforts should continue to focus on smoking cessation, our results encourage clinicians to consider the potential role of the combined effect of foods in a healthy diet in promoting lung health,” said Varraso.
“With that said, a healthy diet pattern has been connected with decreasing risk of several other chronic diseases that develop over an extended period of time,” said Sandon. “So why should it be any different with COPD?”
More information
There’s more on COPD at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
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