Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids intake, air pollution, and the risk of lung cancer: A prospective study in UK biobank

Ambient air pollution and the risk of cancer: Evidence from global cohort studies and epigenetic-related causal inference

The correlation between air pollution and cancer incidence has been a longstanding concern, understanding the need to elucidate the specifics of this relationship. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association between exposure to air pollution and cancer incidence, and to identify the possible biological links between the two. We examined global cohort studies investigating the association between air pollution and cancer and performed a univariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Our analysis revealed that the presence of particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx substantially impacted the risk of developing cancer. MR analysis identified 130 CpGs sites associated with three ambient air pollutants that have significant casual effects on the risk of 14 cancer sites (false discovery rate<0.05). Gene annotation was conducted using g-Profiler by screening for single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with outcome, followed by analysis of the gene interaction network using GeneMANIA, and visualization using igraph. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that air pollution has a significant impact on cancer incidence, provides strong evidence for an epigenetic causal link between the two, and provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which air pollution affects cancer development.

The Association Between Plasma Fatty Acids and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study of the UK Biobank

CONTEXT

Fatty acids (FAs) have emerged as significant contributors to tumorigenesis, yet prospective evidence regarding their specific effects on lung cancer risk remains scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between plasma FAs and lung cancer incidence, as well as a potential modification effect of genetic susceptibility on lung cancer risk.

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted involving 112 547 cancer-free participants from the UK Biobank, with measurements of plasma FAs, including saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), at baseline (2006-2010). Cox regression models were employed to assess lung cancer risk according to plasma FA quartiles or 1-SD increments. Furthermore, interaction between plasma FAs and polygenic risk score was evaluated using an additive model.

RESULTS

Over an average 10.9-year follow-up, 1122 lung cancer cases occurred. After multivariable adjustment, MUFAs were positively associated with lung cancer risk (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.13-1.54). In contrast, PUFAs, particularly n-3 PUFAs, n-6 PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid, and linoleic acid, were associated with a lower risk of lung cancer, with HRs ranging from 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.87) to 0.89 (95% CI, 0.83-0.95). SFAs were not significantly associated with lung cancer risk. Moreover, we observed an additive interaction between plasma PUFAs and genetic risk. Individuals with a high genetic risk and the lowest quartile of plasma PUFAs had the highest risk of lung cancer (HR = 2.20, 95% CI, 1.43-3.38).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that plasma PUFAs may serve as protective factors, while MUFAs represent risk factors for lung cancer, offering novel insights into lung cancer carcinogenesis and prevention.

Inadequate consumption of dietary fatty acids is a risk factor for ovarian cancer: evidence from the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial

PURPOSE

Currently, there is controversy surrounding the association between dietary fatty acids (FAs) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. We aimed to elucidate the aforementioned topic using data from a large cohort.

METHODS

Women participating in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial were included in this study. The dietary information of participants was collected through the diet history questionnaire. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models incorporating restricted cubic splines were constructed to explore the association between dietary FAs intake and the incidence of OC.

RESULTS

Among 50,614 participants in the present study, a total of 277 cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed. The median follow-up time was 9.44 years. Non-significant association between total FAs intake and risk of OC was observed (non-linear P = 0.060). Compared to the median of total FAs intake, hazard ratios were 1.68 (95% CI: 1.10-2.58) and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.05-1.99) for the 5th percentile and 10th percentile, respectively, while consuming more than the median failed to show significant findings. Similar results were found in the analyses of different types (saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids) and sources (animals and plants) of dietary FAs.

CONCLUSION

Inadequate consumption of various types and sources of dietary FAs might be associated with an increased risk of OC.

Associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids with overall and 19 site-specific cancers: A population-based cohort study in UK Biobank

Previous epidemiological studies on the associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cancer incidence have been inconsistent. We investigated the associations of plasma omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs with the incidence of overall and 19 site-specific cancers in a large prospective cohort. 253,138 eligible UK Biobank participants were included in our study. With a mean follow-up of 12.9 years, 29,838 participants were diagnosed with cancer. The plasma levels of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs were expressed as percentages of total fatty acids (omega-3% and omega-6%). In our main models, both omega-6% and omega-3% were inversely associated with overall cancer incidence (HR per SD = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99; HR per SD = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.97-1.00; respectively). Of the 19 site-specific cancers available, 14 were associated with omega-6% and five with omega-3%, all indicating inverse associations, with the exception that prostate cancer was positively associated with omega-3% (HR per SD = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.05). Our population-based cohort study in UK Biobank indicates small inverse associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs with the incidence of overall and most site-specific cancers, although there are notable exceptions, such as prostate cancer.

Roles and therapeutic opportunities of ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in lung cancer

Over the past decades, researchers have continuously investigated the potential functions of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in cancers, including lung cancer. The ω-3 LCPUFAs, primarily consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, were found to modify inflammatory tumor microenvironment, induce cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy, and suppress tumor development when administered alone or with other therapeutical strategies. Although the precise anti-tumor mechanism has not been elucidated yet, ω-3 LCPUFAs are often used in the nutritional treatment of patients with cancer due to their ability to significantly improve patient's nutritional status, increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to treatments, and alleviate cancer-related complications. Here we present the key roles of ω-3 LCPUFAs as dietary supplementations in lung cancer, comprehensively review the recent progress on the underlying mechanisms of cancer cell regulation by ω-3 LCPUFAs, and introduce the application of ω-3 LCPUFAs in the clinical management of lung cancer and its malignant complications.

Beverage consumption modifies the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with ambient air pollution exposure

BACKGROUND

Evidence on how beverage consumption modifies associations between air pollution (AP) exposure with the type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk remains scarce, which we aimed to investigate in this study.

METHODS

A total of 77,278 adults from the UK Biobank cohort were enrolled. Annual average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOX) were estimated to represent the long-term AP exposure using the land use regression model. The consumption of beverages (alcoholic beverages, juice, sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB], coffee, and tea) was estimated with the 24-hour dietary assessment. The AP-T2D and beverage-T2D risks were assessed using Cox regression models. Modifying effects of beverage consumption on AP-T2D associations were evaluated through stratified analysis and heterogeneity test.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.19 years, 1486 T2D events were recorded. One interquartile range increase of PM2.5, NO2, and NOX raised the T2D risk with the hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) being 1.09 (1.03, 1.16), 1.14 (1.06, 1.21), and 1.09 (1.04, 1.15), respectively. For beverages, compared with non-consumption, daily consumption (>0 cup) of red wine, > 0-3 cups of white wine, ground coffee, and herbal tea, and > 0-1 cup of spirits were associated with a 13 %-37 % reduced T2D risk, while > 0 cup of SSB were associated with a 21 %-122 % elevated T2D risk. Beverage consumption modified AP-T2D associations, as compared with non-consumption, > 0-3 cups of red wine, white wine, ground coffee, and herbal tea had a lower attenuated T2D risk associated with NO2 and/or NOX. Conversely, those with > 1 cup of SSB had a higher T2D risk associated with both NO2 and NOX (Pheter <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the significant role of beverage consumption in mitigating or exacerbating the T2D risk associated with long-term NO2 and NOX exposure.

Immunonutrition, Metabolism, and Programmed Cell Death in Lung Cancer: Translating Bench to Bedside

Lung cancer presents significant therapeutic challenges, motivating the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms, encompassing apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis, are pivotal in lung cancer pathogenesis and the treatment response. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to tumor progression and therapy resistance. Immunonutrition, employing specific nutrients to modulate immune function, and metabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer cells, offer promising avenues for intervention. Nutritional interventions, such as omega-3 fatty acids, exert modulatory effects on PCD pathways in cancer cells, while targeting metabolic pathways implicated in apoptosis regulation represents a compelling therapeutic approach. Clinical evidence supports the role of immunonutritional interventions, including omega-3 fatty acids, in augmenting PCD and enhancing treatment outcomes in patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, synthetic analogs of natural compounds, such as resveratrol, demonstrate promising anticancer properties by modulating apoptotic signaling pathways. This review underscores the convergence of immunonutrition, metabolism, and PCD pathways in lung cancer biology, emphasizing the potential for therapeutic exploration in this complex disease. Further elucidation of the specific molecular mechanisms governing these interactions is imperative for translating these findings into clinical practice and improving lung cancer management.

Multiple dietary patterns and the association between long-term air pollution exposure with type 2 diabetes risk: Findings from UK Biobank cohort study

BACKGROUND

Evidence of modifying effect of various dietary patterns (DPs) on risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) induced by long-term exposure to air pollution (AP) is still rather lacking, which therefore we aimed to explore in this study.

METHODS

We included 78,230 UK Biobank participants aged 40-70 years with at least 2 typical 24-hour dietary assessments and without baseline diabetes. The annual average concentration of particulate matter with diameter micrometers ≤2.5 (PM2.5) and ≤10 (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX) estimated by land use regression model was the alternative proxy of long-term AP exposure. Three well-known prior DPs such as Mediterranean diet (MED), dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet (DASH), and empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP), as well as three posterior DPs derived by the rank reduced regression model were used to capture participants' dietary habits. Cox regression models were used to estimate AP-T2D and DP-T2D associations. Modifying effect of DPs on AP-T2D association was assessed using stratified analysis and heterogeneity test.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up 12.19 years, 1,693 participants developed T2D. PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOX significantly increased the T2D risk (P <0.05), with hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for per interquartile range increase being 1.09 (1.02,1.15), 1.04 (1.00, 1.09), 1.11 (1.04, 1.18), and 1.08 (1.03, 1.14), respectively. Comparing high with low adherence, healthy DPs were associated with a 14-41% lower T2D risk. Participants with high adherence to MED, DASH, and anti-EDIP, alongside the posterior anti-oxidative dietary pattern (AODP) had attenuated and statistically non-significant NO2-T2D and NOX-T2D associations (Pmodify <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple forms of healthy DPs help reduce the T2D risk associated with long-term exposure to NO2 and NOX. Our findings indicate that adherence to healthy DPs is a feasible T2D prevention strategy for people long-term suffering from NO2 and NOX pollution.

Associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids with overall and 19 site-specific cancers: a population-based cohort study in UK Biobank

Background

Previous epidemiological studies of the associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cancer incidence have been inconsistent. We investigated the associations of plasma omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs with the incidence of overall and 19 site-specific cancers in a large prospective cohort.

Methods

253,138 eligible UK Biobank participants were included in our study. With a mean follow-up of 12.9 years, 29,838 participants were diagnosed with cancer. The plasma levels of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs were expressed as percentages of total fatty acids (omega-3% and omega-6%).

Results

In our main models, both omega-6% and omega-3% were inversely associated with overall cancer incidence (HR per SD = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99; HR per SD = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.97-1.00; respectively). Of the 19 site-specific cancers available, 14 were associated with omega-6% and five with omega-3%, all indicating inverse associations, with the exception that prostate cancer was positively associated with omega-3% (HR per SD = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.05).

Conclusions

Our population-based cohort study in UK Biobank indicates small inverse associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs with the incidence of overall and most site-specific cancers, although there are notable exceptions, such as prostate cancer.

FFAR4 activation inhibits lung adenocarcinoma via blocking respiratory chain complex assembly associated mitochondrial metabolism

Despite notable advancements in the investigation and management of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the mortality rate for individuals afflicted with LUAD remains elevated, and attaining an accurate prognosis is challenging. LUAD exhibits intricate genetic and environmental components, and it is plausible that free fatty acid receptors (FFARs) may bridge the genetic and dietary aspects. The objective of this study is to ascertain whether a correlation exists between FFAR4, which functions as the primary receptor for dietary fatty acids, and various characteristics of LUAD, while also delving into the potential underlying mechanism. The findings of this study indicate a decrease in FFAR4 expression in LUAD, with a positive correlation (P < 0.01) between FFAR4 levels and overall patient survival (OS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated a significant diagnostic value [area under the curve (AUC) of 0.933] associated with FFAR4 expression. Functional investigations revealed that the FFAR4-specific agonist (TUG891) effectively suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, FFAR4 activation resulted in significant metabolic shifts, including a decrease in oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and an increase in extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in A549 cells. In detail, the activation of FFAR4 has been observed to impact the assembly process of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex and the malate-aspartate shuttle process, resulting in a decrease in the transition of NAD+ to NADH and the inhibition of LUAD. These discoveries reveal a previously unrecognized function of FFAR4 in the negative regulation of mitochondrial metabolism and the inhibition of LUAD, indicating its potential as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment and diagnosis of LUAD.