title: Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of skin cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Skin cancers have a higher incidence than all other cancers combined and are a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Laboratory data suggest certain dietary constituents, notably omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), could potentially protect against skin malignancy, although no large-scale review has been conducted in humans. The objective of this review and meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between dietary n-3 PUFAs and skin cancer incidence. It considered all published randomized controlled trials and observational studies up to March 2013. Five studies (two case-control and three cohort) were identified pertaining to oral n-3 PUFA consumption and incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma (or a combination) and were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. A further six studies considering nondietary n-3 PUFA exposure (e.g., by tissue analysis) and/or recognized biological markers of skin cancer risk (e.g., p53 expression) were analyzed qualitatively. Dietary n-3 PUFAs were not associated with BCC (pooled OR 1.05, 95% CIs 0.86-1.28). Consumption of high levels of n-3 PUFAs were inversely associated with melanoma, although with only one estimate available (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34-0.78), and SCC, although nonsignificantly (pooled OR 0.86, 95% CIs 0.59-1.23). Available evidence is suggestive, but currently inadequate, to support the hypothesis that n-3 PUFAs protect against skin malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Albany Health Campus, Warden Avenue, Albany, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Sophie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Adam C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stoneham
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Lesley E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Adele C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D020011:Protective Agents
keywords: basal cell carcinoma; diet; melanoma; meta-analysis; omega 3; polyunsaturated fatty acids; skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma; systematic review