Addressing the gap in research across diverse ethnicities, a new population-based study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) involving 373 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) cases and 1,406 controls. The study evaluated dietary impacts on MGUS risk using a 24-hour dietary recall method to assess intake of various food groups, adjusting for multiple demographic factors.

The findings indicate significant dietary associations with MGUS risk. High consumption of whole-grain bread, oats, rice, fruits, vegetables, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables correlated with a 28-78% reduction in MGUS risk. Conversely, intake of sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages was associated with a 34-113% increase in risk. Notably, the impact of diet appeared more pronounced in cases of low-risk MGUS (LRMGUS) compared to intermediate/high-risk MGUS (IHRMGUS), suggesting underlying etiological differences between these classifications. These results underscore the potential of dietary modifications in managing MGUS risk.

Reference: Joseph J, Tang L, Jens H, et al. Risk of MGUS, a multiple myeloma precursor, in relation to food and beverage intake in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). J Clin Oncol. 2023;41. e20062-e20062. doi: 0.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e20062.