title: Association between dietary vitamin C and risk of cutaneous melanoma in a population of Northern Italy.
abstract: Cutaneous melanoma incidence has been increasing during the last few years, and diet has been suggested as one of the lifestyle factors responsible for this increase. Since antioxidant nutrients such as ascorbic acid might prevent skin carcinogenesis, we investigated the risk of cutaneous melanoma related to vitamin C intake in a population-based case-control study in Northern Italy based on 380 melanoma patients and 719 matched controls, to whom we administered a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. After adjusting for potential confounders, odds ratio of melanoma were 0.86 (95 % confidence interval 0.65 - 1.15) and 0.59 (95 % confidence interval 0.37 - 0.94) in the intermediate and highest categories of vitamin C dietary intake respectively, compared with the bottom one. The association between vitamin C and decreased risk persisted after adjustment for some potential confounders. In age- and gender-stratified analyses, this association was seen in young females (< 60 years old), and was found to be enhanced in subjects with phototypes II and III. These results suggest a possible protective activity of vitamin C intake against cutaneous melanoma in specific subgroups of this population of Northern Italy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology CREAGEN, Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malavolti
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology CREAGEN, Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malagoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farnetani
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Operative Unit, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Operative Unit, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Operative Unit, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzoni
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Operative Unit, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reggiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Virgili
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliarello
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dika
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sieri
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krogh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology CREAGEN, Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinceti
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: case-control study; diet; epidemiology; melanoma; vitamin C