Coffee Consumption May Reduce Skin Cancer Risk

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and the predominant form in people over age 40.  Jiali Han, from Harvard Medical School (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues analyzed data on112,897 subjects enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Following the participants for 20 years, the team catalogued 22,786 cases of basal cell carcinoma that developed.  Analyzing data on dietary habits of the participants, the researchers found an inverse association between total coffee consumption and risk of basal cell carcinoma. As well, they found an association between caffeine from all sources (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate) and the risk of skin cancer.  Decaffeinated coffee consumption was not associated with decreases in basal cell carcinoma risk. The study authors who that: “Our findings argue that caffeine intake in men and women is inversely associated with risk of [basal cell carcinoma].”