Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1990 Nov;80(11):1323–1329. doi: 10.2105/ajph.80.11.1323

Food and nutrient intake differences between smokers and non-smokers in the US.

A F Subar 1, L C Harlan 1, M E Mattson 1
PMCID: PMC1404910  PMID: 2240298

Abstract

Data from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to determine food and nutrient intake differences between current smokers (also categorized as light, moderate, and heavy smokers) and non-smokers. Smokers in several age-race-sex categories have lower intakes of vitamin C, folate, fiber, and vitamin A than non-smokers, and intake tended to decrease as cigarette consumption increased, particularly for vitamin C, fiber, and folate. Smokers were less likely to have consumed vegetables, fruits (particularly fruits and vegetables high in vitamins C and A), high fiber grains, low fat milk, and vitamin and mineral supplements than non-smokers. A negative linear trend was found between smoking intensity and intake of several categories of fruits and vegetables. These data suggest that the high cancer risk associated with smoking is compounded by somewhat lower intake of nutrients and foods which are thought to be cancer protective.

Full text

PDF
1325

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albanes D., Jones D. Y., Micozzi M. S., Mattson M. E. Associations between smoking and body weight in the US population: analysis of NHANES II. Am J Public Health. 1987 Apr;77(4):439–444. doi: 10.2105/ajph.77.4.439. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bjelke E. Dietary vitamin A and human lung cancer. Int J Cancer. 1975 Apr 15;15(4):561–565. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910150405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Blair S. N., Jacobs D. R., Jr, Powell K. E. Relationships between exercise or physical activity and other health behaviors. Public Health Rep. 1985 Mar-Apr;100(2):172–180. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Block G. A review of validations of dietary assessment methods. Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Apr;115(4):492–505. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113331. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Block G., Cox C., Madans J., Schreiber G. B., Licitra L., Melia N. Vitamin supplement use, by demographic characteristics. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Feb;127(2):297–309. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114805. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Block G., Lanza E. Dietary fiber sources in the United States by demographic group. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1987 Jul;79(1):83–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Block G., Rosenberger W. F., Patterson B. H. Calories, fat and cholesterol: intake patterns in the US population by race, sex and age. Am J Public Health. 1988 Sep;78(9):1150–1155. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.9.1150. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bond G. G., Thompson F. E., Cook R. R. Dietary vitamin A and lung cancer: results of a case-control study among chemical workers. Nutr Cancer. 1987;9(2-3):109–121. doi: 10.1080/01635588709513918. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Bradstock M. K., Marks J. S., Forman M. R., Gentry E. M., Hogelin G. C., Binkin N. J., Trowbridge F. L. Drinking-driving and health lifestyle in the United States: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveys. J Stud Alcohol. 1987 Mar;48(2):147–152. doi: 10.15288/jsa.1987.48.147. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Butrum R. R., Clifford C. K., Lanza E. NCI dietary guidelines: rationale. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988 Sep;48(3 Suppl):888–895. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/48.3.888. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Butterworth C. E., Jr, Hatch K. D., Gore H., Mueller H., Krumdieck C. L. Improvement in cervical dysplasia associated with folic acid therapy in users of oral contraceptives. Am J Clin Nutr. 1982 Jan;35(1):73–82. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/35.1.73. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Byers T. E., Graham S., Haughey B. P., Marshall J. R., Swanson M. K. Diet and lung cancer risk: findings from the Western New York Diet Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1987 Mar;125(3):351–363. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114542. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Doll R., Peto R. The causes of cancer: quantitative estimates of avoidable risks of cancer in the United States today. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1981 Jun;66(6):1191–1308. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Faulkner R. A., Bailey D. A., Mirwald R. L. The relationship of physical activity to smoking characteristics in Canadian men and women. Can J Public Health. 1987 May-Jun;78(3):155–160. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Fehily A. M., Phillips K. M., Yarnell J. W. Diet, smoking, social class, and body mass index in the Caerphilly Heart Disease Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Oct;40(4):827–833. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/40.4.827. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Fisher M., Gordon T. The relation of drinking and smoking habits to diet: the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Mar;41(3):623–630. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/41.3.623. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gruchow H. W., Sobocinski K. A., Barboriak J. J., Scheller J. G. Alcohol consumption, nutrient intake and relative body weight among US adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Aug;42(2):289–295. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/42.2.289. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Grunberg N. E. The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking on food consumption and taste preferences. Addict Behav. 1982;7(4):317–331. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(82)90001-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Heimburger D. C., Alexander C. B., Birch R., Butterworth C. E., Jr, Bailey W. C., Krumdieck C. L. Improvement in bronchial squamous metaplasia in smokers treated with folate and vitamin B12. Report of a preliminary randomized, double-blind intervention trial. JAMA. 1988 Mar 11;259(10):1525–1530. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hinds M. W., Kolonel L. N., Hankin J. H., Lee J. Dietary vitamin A, carotene, vitamin C and risk of lung cancer in Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol. 1984 Feb;119(2):227–237. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113741. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Istvan J., Matarazzo J. D. Tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine use: a review of their interrelationships. Psychol Bull. 1984 Mar;95(2):301–326. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Jacobs D. R., Jr, Gottenborg S. Smoking and weight: the Minnesota Lipid Research Clinic. Am J Public Health. 1981 Apr;71(4):391–396. doi: 10.2105/ajph.71.4.391. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Jacobsen B. K., Thelle D. S. The Tromsø Heart Study: is coffee drinking an indicator of a life style with high risk for ischemic heart disease? Acta Med Scand. 1987;222(3):215–221. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1987.tb10662.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kannas L. The dimensions of health behaviour among young men in Finland. Int J Health Educ. 1982;24(3):146–155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Kvåle G., Bjelke E., Gart J. J. Dietary habits and lung cancer risk. Int J Cancer. 1983 Apr 15;31(4):397–405. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910310402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Lanza E., Jones D. Y., Block G., Kessler L. Dietary fiber intake in the US population. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 Nov;46(5):790–797. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/46.5.790. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. MacLennan R., Da Costa J., Day N. E., Law C. H., Ng Y. K., Shanmugaratnam K. Risk factors for lung cancer in Singapore Chinese, a population with high female incidence rates. Int J Cancer. 1977 Dec 15;20(6):854–860. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910200606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Mettlin C., Graham S., Swanson M. Vitamin A and lung cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1979 Jun;62(6):1435–1438. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Nomura A. M., Stemmermann G. N., Heilbrun L. K., Salkeld R. M., Vuilleumier J. P. Serum vitamin levels and the risk of cancer of specific sites in men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii. Cancer Res. 1985 May;45(5):2369–2372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Patterson B. H., Block G. Food choices and the cancer guidelines. Am J Public Health. 1988 Mar;78(3):282–286. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.3.282. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Pelletier O. Vitamin C and cigarette smokers. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1975 Sep 30;258:156–168. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Samet J. M., Skipper B. J., Humble C. G., Pathak D. R. Lung cancer risk and vitamin A consumption in New Mexico. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Feb;131(2):198–202. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1985.131.2.198. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Schectman G., Byrd J. C., Gruchow H. W. The influence of smoking on vitamin C status in adults. Am J Public Health. 1989 Feb;79(2):158–162. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.2.158. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Shekelle R. B., Lepper M., Liu S., Maliza C., Raynor W. J., Jr, Rossof A. H., Paul O., Shryock A. M., Stamler J. Dietary vitamin A and risk of cancer in the Western Electric study. Lancet. 1981 Nov 28;2(8257):1185–1190. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)91435-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Stryker W. S., Kaplan L. A., Stein E. A., Stampfer M. J., Sober A., Willett W. C. The relation of diet, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption to plasma beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol levels. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Feb;127(2):283–296. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Subar A. F., Block G., James L. D. Folate intake and food sources in the US population. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Sep;50(3):508–516. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/50.3.508. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Whitehead N., Reyner F., Lindenbaum J. Megaloblastic changes in the cervical epithelium. Association with oral contraceptive therapy and reversal with folic acid. JAMA. 1973 Dec 17;226(12):1421–1424. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wu A. H., Henderson B. E., Pike M. C., Yu M. C. Smoking and other risk factors for lung cancer in women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1985 Apr;74(4):747–751. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Ziegler R. G. A review of epidemiologic evidence that carotenoids reduce the risk of cancer. J Nutr. 1989 Jan;119(1):116–122. doi: 10.1093/jn/119.1.116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Ziegler R. G., Mason T. J., Stemhagen A., Hoover R., Schoenberg J. B., Gridley G., Virgo P. W., Altman R., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Dietary carotene and vitamin A and risk of lung cancer among white men in New Jersey. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1984 Dec;73(6):1429–1435. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES