Dietary inflammatory index and lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2026.03.001

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To quantify the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the risk of lung cancer through systematic review. Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang (from database inception to August 2025) for observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) that examined DII in relation to lung cancer risk. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and appraised study quality. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software to pool the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Predefined subgroup analyses examined effects by study design, assessment tool, geographic region, number of DII components, adjustment for total energy intake, sex, smoking status, and lung cancer histologic subtype. Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, including 785,581 participants and 13,907 incident lung cancer cases. Compared with diets with low inflammatory potential, high-DII diets were associated with a higher risk of lung cancer (pooled RR=1.22; 95%CI: 1.08-1.38; P<0.01). Subgroup analyses showed the association was more pronounced among smokers (RR=1.24; 95%CI: 1.06-1.44; P=0.011), suggesting a possible synergistic interaction between pro-inflammatory diet and tobacco exposure. By histology, a significant positive association was observed for small-cell lung cancer (RR=1.33; 95%CI: 1.06-1.66; I²=0%, heterogeneity P=0.412), however, no significant association was observed in adenocarcinoma (RR=0.97; 95%CI: 0.86-1.08; I²=0%, heterogeneity P=0.375). Conclusion Current observational evidence indicates that a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern (high DII) is associated with increased lung cancer risk, particularly in individuals with a history of smoking.

Key words: lung neoplasms, dietary inflammatory index, diet, pro-inflammatory diet, meta-analysis

CLC Number:

R734.2

Tang Siying, Jia Junping, Tang Yuting, Zheng Yuqin, Kong Yue. Dietary inflammatory index and lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis[J]. Clinical Focus, 2026, 41(3): 197-204.

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https://www.lchc.cn/EN/Y2026/V41/I3/197

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References 31

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作者	出版年份	研究地点	研究设计	研究时间	年龄 (岁)	研究工具	食物参数	参与人数	病例	数据类型
Deng等^[13]	2017	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1988-1994	20~90	24 h膳食回顾法	27	13 280	168	三分位数
Bodén等^[14]	2019	瑞典	前瞻性队列研究	1990-2016	40~60	FFQ	30	100 881	442	三分位数
Sadeghi等^[15]	2022	伊朗	病例对照研究	2020.6-2021.9	>30	FFQ	32	280	3	三分位数
Hodge等^[16]	2016	墨尔本	前瞻性队列研究	1990-2011	40~69	FFQ	29	35 303	403	四分位数
Maisonneuve等^[17]	2016	意大利	前瞻性队列研究	2004-2005	≥50	FFQ	24	4 336	200	四分位数
Shivappa等^[18]	2019	新加坡	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2015	45~74	FFQ	36	60 232	1 851	五分位数
Mekonnen等^[19]	2025	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1998.12-2018.12	≥55	FFQ	33	96 607	2 127	四分位数
Park等^[20]	2021	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2014	45~75	QFFQ	28	179 318	5 350	五分位数
Shi等^[21]	2025	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2001	≥55	DHQ	35	101 755	1 706	四分位数
Dehghani等^[22]	2024	伊朗	病例对照研究	NA	≥18	FFQ	36	4 028	616	三分位数
Zhou等^[23]	2025	英国	前瞻性队列研究	2006-2012.6	39~72	24 h膳食回顾法	28	189 561	1 041	三分位数

作者	出版年份	研究地点	研究设计	研究时间	年龄 (岁)	研究工具	食物参数	参与人数	病例	数据类型
Deng等^[13]	2017	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1988-1994	20~90	24 h膳食回顾法	27	13 280	168	三分位数
Bodén等^[14]	2019	瑞典	前瞻性队列研究	1990-2016	40~60	FFQ	30	100 881	442	三分位数
Sadeghi等^[15]	2022	伊朗	病例对照研究	2020.6-2021.9	>30	FFQ	32	280	3	三分位数
Hodge等^[16]	2016	墨尔本	前瞻性队列研究	1990-2011	40~69	FFQ	29	35 303	403	四分位数
Maisonneuve等^[17]	2016	意大利	前瞻性队列研究	2004-2005	≥50	FFQ	24	4 336	200	四分位数
Shivappa等^[18]	2019	新加坡	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2015	45~74	FFQ	36	60 232	1 851	五分位数
Mekonnen等^[19]	2025	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1998.12-2018.12	≥55	FFQ	33	96 607	2 127	四分位数
Park等^[20]	2021	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2014	45~75	QFFQ	28	179 318	5 350	五分位数
Shi等^[21]	2025	美国	前瞻性队列研究	1993-2001	≥55	DHQ	35	101 755	1 706	四分位数
Dehghani等^[22]	2024	伊朗	病例对照研究	NA	≥18	FFQ	36	4 028	616	三分位数
Zhou等^[23]	2025	英国	前瞻性队列研究	2006-2012.6	39~72	24 h膳食回顾法	28	189 561	1 041	三分位数

作者	①	②	③	④	⑤	⑥	⑦	⑧	总分
Deng等^[13]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Bodén等^[14]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Hodge等^[16]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Maisonneuve等^[17]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Shivappa等^[18]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Mekonnen等^[19]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Park等^[20]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Shi等^[21]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Zhou等^[23]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9

作者	①	②	③	④	⑤	⑥	⑦	⑧	总分
Deng等^[13]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Bodén等^[14]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Hodge等^[16]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Maisonneuve等^[17]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Shivappa等^[18]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9
Mekonnen等^[19]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Park等^[20]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Shi等^[21]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8
Zhou等^[23]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	9

作者	①	②	③	④	⑤	⑥	⑦	⑧	总分
Sadeghi等^[15]	1	1	0	1	2	1	1	0	7
Dehghani等^[22]	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	0	8