title: Systematic review of studies investigating the association between dietary habits and cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several papers have dealt with diet as a risk factor for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). This study aimed to synthesize available data on the topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of observational studies assessing the association between dietary habits and CMM was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases were used to identify eligible articles. Quality was assessed through the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Case-control and cohort studies evaluating the intake of food/nutrients through the assessment of dietary habits and the occurrence of CMM were considered eligible. Data comparing the highest and lowest levels of consumption were collected from single studies and described qualitatively as data combination was not possible. Results were reported as percentages on the basis of relative risks and odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen studies reported in 21 articles were selected. Cohort studies showed better quality than case-control studies. Most articles did not detect any significant association between food/nutrient intake and CMM, except for limited evidence of a protective role associated with fish, vegetables and fruit. Risk reduction was shown to be 35-37%, 40-57% and 34-46%, respectively, in studies reporting significant results. Similarly, few articles showed protective roles of beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, D and E, with risk reduction of 64%, 37-43%, 41%, 15-39% and 50-66%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A trend towards reduced risk of CMM associated with higher intake of fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, D and E, has been shown but further research is needed to provide decisive data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.dewaure@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Waure
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gualano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jovic-Vranes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Djikanovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
keywords: Diet; Melanoma; Prevention and control; Review