Citrus products and risk of getting melanoma

Linked Article:   Marley et al. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185 :353–362. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, and people all over the world have been getting it more and more in recent decades. In the UK, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer diagnosis. There are several things that we know will increase someone’s chance of getting melanoma, such as being in the sunlight or getting sunburned. However, there is a reason to believe that eating a lot of citrus may also increase someone’s chances of getting melanoma because citrus products contain a compound called psoralen. Psoralen can increase the chances of getting melanoma because it can make your skin more prone to damage from the sun. This study was done by researchers in the USA, and we used data from a large sample of people in the UK to see if there was any connection between consuming a lot of citrus and being diagnosed with melanoma. We did this by taking information that people in the UK sample provided about their diet, and used it to calculate the total amount of citrus people were consuming. We then used this calculation to see if those who had the most citrus were more likely to get melanoma. We found that those who consumed the most citrus, particularly oranges and orange juice, were more likely to get melanoma. This was especially true for fairer‐skinned participants. We conclude that a lot of citrus may increase someone’s chances of getting melanoma because of the way citrus products can make the skin more susceptible to sun damage. If more researchers confirm this, then we can use this information to help keep some people from getting melanoma in the future.