A new study suggests that the Western diet—rich in salt, sugar, and fat—may elevate the risk of lung cancer, challenging the notion that this disease is unrelated to dietary habits. While poor diet has long been tied to cancers of the liver and pancreas, lung cancer’s connection to food has been overlooked.

“It’s rarely discussed,” said Ramon Sun, Associate Professor at the University of Florida and director of its Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research.

Published in Nature Metabolism, the research zeroes in on glycogen, a glucose-based storage molecule that accumulates in various cancers. Using lab and computer models, the team found that in lung cancer, glycogen acts as an “oncogenic metabolite”— likened to a “giant lollipop” fueling tumor growth. Higher glycogen levels correlated with larger, more aggressive tumors.

In experiments, mice fed a high-fat, high-fructose Western diet showed increased blood glycogen and accelerated lung tumor growth.

Reducing glycogen levels slowed this progression, revealing a direct link. “Glycogen feeds lung cancer by supplying its building blocks,” the researchers explained, noting it’s a strong predictor of tumor growth and mortality in patients.

Sun urged a shift in public health focus, advocating for diet awareness campaigns akin to anti-smoking efforts. “A nutrient-rich diet, active lifestyle, and limited alcohol are key to long-term health,” the team emphasized. The findings spotlight the need to rethink lung cancer’s causes, pushing dietary choices into the prevention conversation.