High sulfur-microbial diet linked to 23% higher lung cancer risk in large US cohort
A prospective study of 95,612 US adults found that a high sulfur microbial diet (SMD) score is associated with a 23% increased risk of lung cancer incidence and a 19% higher risk of lung cancer mortality. The SMD score, derived from 25 food groups, reflects dietary patterns that may influence gut bacteria producing hydrogen sulfide. While the association weakened after adjusting for overall diet quality, it remained significant for heavy smokers and specific lung cancer subtypes.