Fat intake and risk of skin cancer in US adults
A partir des données de deux études prospectives américaines portant sur 1 530 patients atteints de mélanome cutané, sur 3 979 patients atteints d'un carcinome basocellulaire et sur 30 648 patients atteints d'un carcinome épidermoïde, cette étude évalue l'association entre une consommation d'aliments riches en graisses et le risque de développer un cancer de la peau
Background: Fat intake has been associated with certain cancers, including colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. However, literature on dietary fat and skin cancer has been limited. Methods: We examined the association between fat intake and risk of skin cancer including cutaneous malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) within two prospective studies; the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). Dietary information on total, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, omega-6, and omega-3 fat and cholesterol was repeatedly assessed generally every 4 years. Incident cases were identified by self-report. Diagnosis on melanoma and SCC were confirmed by pathologic records. Results: A total of 794 melanoma, 2,223 SCC, and 17,556 BCC in the NHS (1984 to 2012) and 736 melanoma, 1,756 SCC, and 13,092 BCC in the HPFS (1986 to 2012) were documented. Higher polyunsaturated fat intake was associated with risk of SCC (pooled hazard ratio (HR) for highest vs. lowest quintiles, 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.28; Ptrend=0.001) and BCC (pooled HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; Ptrend=0.01). Higher omega-6 fat intake was associated with risks of SCC, BCC, and melanoma. Omega-3 fat intake was associated with risk of BCC, but not with SCC or melanoma. No other fats were associated with melanoma risk. The associations were similar in women and men and by other skin cancer risk factors. Conclusions: Polyunsaturated fat intake was modestly associated with skin cancer risk. Impact: Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to identify relevant biological mechanisms.