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A population-based case–control study of diet and melanoma risk in northern Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Marco Vinceti ,
Giovanni Pellacani ,
Carlotta Malagoli ,
Stefania Bassissi ,
Sabina Sieri ,
Francesca Bonvicini ,
Vittorio Krogh  and
Stefania Seidenari
Marco Vinceti*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, I-41100 Modena, Italy
Giovanni Pellacani
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Del Pozzo 71, I-41100 Modena, Italy
Carlotta Malagoli
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute, Via Venezian 1, I-20133 Milan, Italy
Stefania Bassissi
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Del Pozzo 71, I-41100 Modena, Italy
Sabina Sieri
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute, Via Venezian 1, I-20133 Milan, Italy
Francesca Bonvicini
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, I-41100 Modena, Italy
Vittorio Krogh
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute, Via Venezian 1, I-20133 Milan, Italy
Stefania Seidenari
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Del Pozzo 71, I-41100 Modena, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Email marco.vinceti@unimore.it
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Abstract

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Objective

We aimed at examining the association between dietary constituents and risk of cutaneous melanoma.

Design

In an area of northern Italy we recruited 59 newly diagnosed melanoma patients and 59 age- and sex-matched population controls, to whom we administered a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire.

Results

We found an excess risk of melanoma in subjects with a higher energy-adjusted intake of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, of linoleic acid (relative risk = 2.16 for intake in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile, P for linear trend = 0.061). Conversely, disease risk was inversely associated with the consumption of soluble carbohydrates (relative risk = 0.34 for intake in the upper vs. the lowest tertile adjusting for total energy intake, P for linear trend = 0.046). No other dietary factors, including alcohol, vitamins and trace elements, correlated with melanoma risk. The association of melanoma risk with linoleic acid and soluble carbohydrates intakes was further strengthened in multivariate analysis, and when analysis was limited to females.

Conclusions

Overall, these results indicate that an excess energy-adjusted intake of linoleic acid and a lower consumption of soluble carbohydrates may increase melanoma risk.

Keywords

DietLinoleic acidMelanomaSoluble carbohydratesCase–control study
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 8 , December 2005 , pp. 1307 - 1314
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2005

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