Remarkable: can grapefruit cause melanoma?
Fresh orange juice or a grapefruit during your breakfast every day is healthy, but it may have a sour aftertaste. A possible link between citrus fruits and the development of melanoma has been found. Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer and the number of melanoma cases is increasing in the Netherlands. Statistics show that the Netherlands is in the top 5 with the most skin cancer in Europe.
A US questionnaire study followed the diet, lifestyle and sun behavior of 63,810 women and 41,622 men in health care. After a follow-up of 24-26 years, 1840 people had been diagnosed with melanoma. Orange (fruit + juice), grapefruit (fruit + juice) intake was included in the questionnaire.
Conclusion of the study: 36% more likely if you consume more than 1.6 citrus fruits per day compared to less than 2 citrus fruits per week. For grapefruit there is even a 41% increased risk if you consume 3 times a week compared to no grapefruit eaters. Remarkably, there was no association between melanoma and grapefruit juice.
What’s in grapefruit besides vitamin C that gives an increased risk?
The responsible substance in citrus fruits is called psoralen and makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Read more about medication and photosensitivity.
Study limitations: only oranges and grapefruit and not lemon, lime were research examined. The research group consisted exclusively of people in health care, who may have a different diet and lifestyle. You cannot generalize the results. The group had to fill in a questionnaire and there may be a memory bias. Error in the amount of grapefruit and orange consumption per day is human. After all, citrus fruits are healthy, the benefits outweigh the negative consequences.
No association with melanoma was found for other fruits and vegetables.
What does all this mean?
An understandable reaction is: what is good nowadays, we can’t do anything anymore! Another nutritional study showed that coffee consumption reduced melanoma risk in men, but not in women. These studies indicate the complexity of the human body. Door het nemen van de juiste voorzorgsmaatregelen zoals UV-huidbescherming en kleding kun je zowel genieten van citrusvruchten en de zon. Prevention is better than cure and eat varied.
Read more about:sunscreen: these spots are often forgottenand UVA, UVB and SPF – what does it mean?
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While you are here
Melanoma and obesity
Recent research has made it clear that people who are overweight, really have obesity, also suffer from chronic mild inflammation in the body. In combination with exposure to UVA radiation, this leads to an increased risk of melanoma skin cancer. More on relationship between melanoma and obesity
