We investigated proteins identified by shotgun proteomics in cytologically normal airway epithelial cells from individuals at different levels of risk for lung cancer. We identified 2869 proteins in bronchial brushings from individuals at low, moderate or high risk for lung cancer. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of carbohydrate metabolic pathways in high risk individuals. Differential expression of selected proteins was validated by parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry in separate individual bronchial brushings. Augmentation of glucose consumption and lactate production measured in human bronchial epithelial cell BEAS2B treated with cigarette smoke condensate and increased synthetic ability and reductive carboxylation revealed by metabolic flux analysis indicated profound metabolic reprogramming.