2020_06_19_MED_healthy_diet_prevents_basal cell_carcinoma

Researchers from the University of Navarra and the University of Milan have linked the following of healthy diets with a reduced risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer subject , which usually develops on areas of the body exposed to the sun. The results of the study have just been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The group of Italian and Spanish experts investigated adherence to three high-quality dietary patterns: Mediterranean, DASH (corresponding to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and pro-vegetarian of 22,492 people between 1999 and 2016 from the project SUN. It was observed that those in the highest rates of adherence to the Mediterraneanper diem expenses had a 72% lower risk of disease at equal exhibition sun and family history of skin cancer. In the case of the per diem expenses DASH, this risk reduction was 68%, while no association was found between a pro-vegetarian dietary patron saint and the risk of basal cell carcinoma. 

Maira Bes-Rastrollo, coordinator of the study, Professor of Public Health at School of Medicine at the University of Navarra and researcher at CIBERobn and IdISNA, notes that "the lower risk of basal cell carcinoma associated with these dietary patterns appears to be related to the consumption of fruits and low-fat dairy products, although it is also possible that other food groups have small individual effects that are visible only as part of an overall dietary patron saint , when cumulative and synergistic effects are considered".

First study to link diet, family history and lifestyle

Participants in the research completed a questionnaire at the start of the study on their dietary habits, lifestyles and health conditions, and also provided information on their history of sunburn and family history of skin cancer. This information was updated every 2 years, so that, during the observation period, experts identified 101 new cases of basal cell carcinoma and compared them with 404 disease-free subjects.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association of different healthy dietary patterns with the risk of basal cell carcinoma in a population whose history of exhibition to the sun and family history of skin cancer were documented," explains Alessandro Leone, first author of article and researcher of the University of Milan.

Still, the scientists caution that confirmatory programs of study is needed before using these findings to support specific dietary recommendations with the goal to prevent basal cell carcinoma.