Generous intake of high-fiber diets rich in legumes, whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables may protect individuals against kidney cancer.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between consistent consumption of high-fiber diets and kidney cancer development risk. A team of researchers from the National Cancer Institute, Rockville, United States examined data on the diets, lifestyle, and medical history of 491,841 male and female subjects recruited from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

The researchers observed that regular intake of fiber-laden plant foods, such as legumes, whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables decreased the odds of developing renal cancer by 16-18%. In contrast, high dietary ingestion of refined grains was found to increase kidney cancer development risk in this study. The results of this study indicate that increased consumption of high-fiber diets rich in legumes, whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables may play a vital role in preventing the development and growth of cancerous cells and tumors in the kidney.