Study: Orange Juice Drinkers 36% More Likely to Develop Skin Cancer

Drinking a glass of orange juice is an everyday breakfast ritual for millions around the world. But recent researches in US published in Journal of Clinical Oncology have shown that drinking orange juice everyday are more likely to get skin cancer and the risk is increased by 25%. Doctors found a link between certain forms of citrus fruits and melanoma; which is the deadliest form of the disease.

Over the past thirty years Melanoma rates have been increasing in the U.S. and the average age of diagnosis is 62 years old.

The Study

The study suggests that people who consume high quantities of grapefruit or orange juice are more likely to develop melanoma, compared to those who don’t.

Data for 63,810 women was analyzed by the researchers and these women were part of a Nurses’ Health Study conducted between 1984 and 2010; and 41,622 men that took part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, conducted between 1986 and 2010.

A dietary questionnaire was introduced to monitor each participant’s citrus fruit intake. This was done once every four years. For the study, one serving of citrus fruit was equivalent to one orange, half a grapefruit, or one six-ounce glass of orange or grapefruit juice.

A questionnaire which focused on the participant’s lifestyle factors, including smoking habits, physical activity, and medical history was to be filled by them every two years. The following things were discovered by the researchers 

• 1,840 participants developed melanoma over more than 20 years of follow-up
• They found people who ate citrus two to four times a week had a 10 per cent increased risk of melanoma.
• Participants who consumed more servings of oranges, grapefruits had a higher risk of melanoma. The study showed that those who consumed the fruits or their juices at least 1.5 times a day had a 36% higher risk of developing melanoma.
• The risk was not associated with any lifestyle factors, such as age, smoking status, alcohol, and coffee intake.
• Of all the citrus fruits, grapefruit seemed to have the strongest association with melanoma.
• Those who were prone to sunburns as a child and consumed high amounts of whole grapefruit were at the highest risk of developing melanoma.

Though researchers concluded that the grapefruit and orange juice have a connection in the development of melanoma, what actually causes it? They speculate that because the fruits are rich inpsoralens andfurocoumarins, it may increase the skin’s sensitivity towards the sun and more susceptible to sunburns.

Both substances are potential carcinogens that are found in both mice and humans. They will both interact with UV rays to trigger melanoma cells to proliferate.

Causes of Melanoma

• Sun exposure: there is no denying that excessive exposure to UVA and UVB rays and sunburns are not good for the skin and can potentially result in developing skin cancer, including melanoma.
• Moles: these are of two type – normal moles also known as beauty marks that surface in the earlier stages of a life, and atypical moles – which can increase an individual’s risk of developing melanoma.
• Personal history: If you had melanoma in the past, there’s a higher risk of it reoccurring.

Melanoma Risks 

Keep an eye on your mole and consult your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• It becomes large
• It changes shape
• The color of the mole changes
• It becomes crusty or starts to bleed
• It is itchy or painful

Melanoma Prevention Tips

• Avoid the Sun – The UV rays are the strongest between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use shades or hat if you have to step out during these hours.
• Wear sunscreen – Wear an SPF 30 or over sunscreen and repeat if your outside for more than four hours. Along with it also remember to use sunglasses and broad hat to keep you protected
• Keep young children safe from sun – Sunburns at a young age can increase one’s risk of developing melanoma in later years and therefore kids should also be protected from the harsh UV rays.
• Regular visits to the Doctor – Early diagnosis can help in curing the Melanoma and this hold true in case of every disease. Regular visits to the doctor can keep you update with your health.

So does that mean you cannot have orange juice or grapefruit? No, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should stop your morning citrus consumption as there is ample room for more research. Besides, the fruits, there are other risk factors listed above that increase your chances of getting melanoma.