Epidemiology

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Dietary fat intake and risk of skin cancer: A prospective study in Australian adults

  1. Torukiri I. Ibiebele1,†,*,
  2. Jolieke C. van der Pols1,
  3. Maria Celia Hughes1,
  4. Geoffrey C. Marks2,
  5. Adèle C. Green1

Article first published online: 6 APR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24481

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 125, Issue 7, pages 1678–1684, 1 October 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ibiebele, T. I., van der Pols, J. C., Hughes, M. C., Marks, G. C. and Green, A. C. (2009), Dietary fat intake and risk of skin cancer: A prospective study in Australian adults. International Journal of Cancer, 125: 1678–1684. doi: 10.1002/ijc.24481

Author Information

  1. 1

    Cancer and Population Studies Group, Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia

  2. 2

    School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia

  1. †

    Fax: + 617-3845-3503.

*Cancer and Population Studies Group, Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 6 APR 2009
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 6 APR 2009 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 26 MAR 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 13 OCT 2008

Funded by

  • The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (data collection)
  • World Cancer Research Fund International (data analysis)

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Keywords:

  • squamous cell carcinoma;
  • skin neoplasms;
  • dietary fat;
  • food frequency questionnaire

Abstract

Although intakes of dietary fat have been associated with both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, the evidence is sparse and inconsistent. This study prospectively investigated the association between total dietary fat; saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids; and percent energy from fat in relation to BCC and SCC of the skin. At baseline in 1992, total fat intake and intake of fatty acids were assessed in an Australian community-based longitudinal study, using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1,057 adult residents (aged 25–75 years) in Nambour, Queensland. Information on demography, sun-sensitivity history and sun exposure factors were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Associations with BCC and SCC in terms of persons newly affected and of tumor counts were assessed using Poisson and negative binomial regression models, respectively, based on incident, histologically-confirmed tumors occurring between 1992 and 2002. No significant linear trends were observed in overall risk of BCC or SCC of the skin with increasing total fat intake. However, in participants with a history of skin cancer, total fat intake (multivariable adjusted RR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.20–4.88; p for trend = 0.01) was associated with increased numbers of SCC tumors comparing the highest to lowest tertile. In conclusion, SCC tumor risk increased as total fat intake increased in people with a history of skin cancer. Dietary fats were not associated with BCC occurrence. © 2009 UICC

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