Diet, alcohol, smoking, serum β‐carotene, and vitamin A in male nonmelanocytic skin cancer patients and controls

Abstract

A case-control study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia of 88 consecutive males admitted for the surgical removal of a nonmelanocytic skin cancer (histologically confirmed basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) and of 88 male control patients admitted for small elective surgical procedures. In both cases and controls, previous diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking habit were investigated and serum beta-carotene and vitamin A levels were measured. A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between the risk of skin cancer and a high intake of fish (p = 0.05); vegetables in general (p < 0.001); beans, lentils, or peas (p < 0.001), carrots, silverbeet (Swiss chard), or pumpkin (p < 0.001); cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussel sprouts, or broccoli) (p < 0.001); and beta-carotene- and vitamin C-containing foods (p = 0.004). Cases had a lower mean serum level of beta-carotene (p < 0.001) and vitamin A (p = 0.02) than controls. The incidence of skin cancer in the study was inversely related to the level of serum beta-carotene (p < 0.0001). The correlation coefficient between dietary beta-carotene/vitamin C and serum beta-carotene was 0.22 (p = 0.04). Smoking and alcohol consumption showed no statistically significant association with the risk of nonmelanocytic skin cancer. The results were similar for both cell types. A high intake of vegetables including cruciferous vegetables, beta-carotene- and vitamin C-containing foods, and fish appears to be protective for nonmelanocytic skin cancer, and this deserves further study, as does the possible etiologic relevance of the low serum levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Determinants of skin sensitivity to solar irradiation

“…Observational data on the relation between carotenoids and risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer are sparse and inconsistent (Kune et al, 1992;Wei et al, 1994;van Dam et al, 2000). No effects were found in a large randomized trials of supplementation with b-carotene on nonmelanoma skin cancer (Greenberg et al, 1990;Frieling et al, 2000).…”

Alcohol intake and risk of skin cancer: a prospective study

“…Results of two case-control studies showed no significant association between alcohol intake and BCC (Kune et al, 1992;Sahl et al, 1995), although results of recent cohort studies suggest that the association between alcohol intake and BCC may vary between different types of alcoholic beverages (Fung et al, 2002;Soleas et al, 2002;Freedman et al, 2003). These studies showed a positive association between BCC risk and total alcohol intake, white wine and liquor consumption and an inverse association with red wine consumption.…”

Study on Awareness Regarding Consumption of Functional Foods With Reference To Cancer Prevention

“…High intake of cruciferous vegetables is associated with low cancer risk (Kune 1992). A variety of indole derivatives and isothiocyanates occur naturally in cruciferous vegetables.…”