How could diet affect skin cancer?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Drinking more coffee is associated with a lower risk of both BCC[1] and melanoma, with these findings specific to caffeinated coffee.[2]

    A few prospective cohort studies have found that eating more citrus fruit (e.g., grapefruit, oranges) is associated with a higher risk of melanoma.[3] This could be due to citrus containing psoralens, compounds that become carcinogenic when exposed to ultraviolet light.[4]

    Higher alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of BCC,[5] SCC,[5] and melanoma.[6]

    A higher intake of retinol (a form of vitamin A) is associated with a lower risk of melanoma,[7] although high-quality research on the topic is somewhat limited.

    References

    1. ^Caini S, Cattaruzza MS, Bendinelli B, Tosti G, Masala G, Gnagnarella P, Assedi M, Stanganelli I, Palli D, Gandini SCoffee, tea and caffeine intake and the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer: a review of the literature and meta-analysis.Eur J Nutr.(2017-Feb)
    2. ^Micek A, Godos J, Lafranconi A, Marranzano M, Pajak ACaffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption and melanoma risk: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Int J Food Sci Nutr.(2018-Jun)
    3. ^Fang X, Han D, Yang J, Li F, Sui XCitrus Consumption and Risk of Melanoma: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.Front Nutr.(2022)
    4. ^Shaowei Wu, Jiali Han, Diane Feskanich, Eunyoung Cho, Meir J Stampfer, Walter C Willett, Abrar A QureshiCitrus Consumption and Risk of Cutaneous Malignant MelanomaJ Clin Oncol.(2015 Aug 10)
    5. ^Yen H, Dhana A, Okhovat JP, Qureshi A, Keum N, Cho EAlcohol intake and risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.Br J Dermatol.(2017-Sep)
    6. ^Gandini S, Masala G, Palli D, Cavicchi B, Saieva C, Ermini I, Baldini F, Gnagnarella P, Caini SAlcohol, alcoholic beverages, and melanoma risk: a systematic literature review and dose-response meta-analysis.Eur J Nutr.(2018-Oct)
    7. ^Zhang YP, Chu RX, Liu HVitamin A intake and risk of melanoma: a meta-analysis.PLoS One.(2014)