Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Alcohol intake and risk of skin cancer: a prospective study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 162–170 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the association between total alcohol intake and intake of different types of alcoholic beverages in relation to the risk of basal cell (BCC) and squamous cell (SCC) carcinoma of the skin.

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Setting:

Follow-up data from a community-based skin cancer study in Australia.

Subjects:

Randomly selected sample of 1360 adult residents of the township of Nambour who completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1992 and were monitored for BCC and SCC until 31 December 2002.

Results:

No significant association was found between overall BCC or SCC risk and total alcohol intake, or intake of beer, white wine, red wine or sherry and port. However, among those with a prior skin cancer history, there was a significant doubling of risk of SCC for above-median consumption of sherry and port (multivariable adjusted relative risk 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.06–5.72) compared with abstainers.

Conclusions:

There are no associations between first occurrence of skin cancers and alcoholic beverage consumption. People with a history of skin cancer who consume above-average quantities of sherry or port may be at a raised risk of SCC, although replication of these findings in different study populations is needed to confirm this possible role of specific alcoholic beverages in secondary keratinocytic skin cancer risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almahroos M, Kurban A (2004a). Ultraviolet carcinogenesis in nonmelanoma skin cancer Part II: review and update on epidemiologic correlations. SKINmed 3, 132–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almahroos M, Kurban AK (2004b). Ultraviolet carcinogenesis in nonmelanoma skin cancer. Part I: Incidence Rates in Relation to Geographic Locations and in Malignant Populations. SKINmed 3, 29–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benedetti A, Parent ME, Siemiatycki J (2006). Consumption of alcoholic beverages and risk of lung cancer: results from two case–control studies in Montreal, Canada. Cancer Causes Control 17, 469–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christenson LJ, Borrowman TA, Vachon CM, Tollefson MM, Otley CC, Weaver AL et al. (2005). Incidence of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas in a population younger than 40 years. JAMA 294, 681–690.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diepgen TL, Mahler V (2002). The epidemiology of skin cancer. Br J Dermatol 146 (Suppl 61), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eedy DJ (2000). Non-melanoma skin cancer and the ‘new National Health Service’: implications for U.K. dermatology? Br J Dermatol 142, 397–399.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Food Standards Australia New Zealand (1995). Nuttab95: Nutrient data table for use in Australia.

  • Freedman DM, Sigurdson A, Doody MM, Mabuchi K, Linet MS (2003). Risk of basal cell carcinoma in relation to alcohol intake and smoking. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 12, 1540–1543.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fung TT, Hunter DJ, Spiegelman D, Colditz GA, Rimm EB, Willet WC (2002). Intake of alcohol and alcoholic beverages and the risk of basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 11, 1119–1122.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Falcon MS, Simal-Gandara J (2005). Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in alcoholic drinks and the identification of their potential sources. Food Addit Contamin 22, 791–797.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerhauser C (2005). Beer constituents as potential cancer chemopreventive agents. Eur J Cancer 41, 1941–1954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green A, Battistutta D (1990). Incidence and determinants of skin cancer in a high-risk Australian population. Int J Cancer 46, 356–361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green A, Battistutta D, Hart V, Leslie D, Marks G, Williams G et al. (1994). The Nambour Skin Cancer and Actinic Eye Disease Prevention Trial: design and baseline characteristics of participants. Control Clin Trials 15, 512–522.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green A, Battistutta D, Hart V, Leslie D, Weedon D (1996). Skin cancer in a subtropical Australian population: incidence and lack of association with occupation. The Nambour Study Group. Am J Epidemiol 144, 1034–1040.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green A, Leslie D, Weedon D (1988). Diagnosis of skin cancer in the general population: clinical accuracy in the Nambour survey. Med J Aust 148, 447–450.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green A, Williams G, Neale R, Hart V, Leslie D, Parsons P et al. (1999). Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 28, 723–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertog MGL, Hollman PCH, Katan MB (1992). Content of potentially anticarcinogenic flavonoids of 28 vegetables and 9 fruits commonly consumed in the Netherlands. J Agric Food Chem 40, 2379–2383.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes MC, Pols JCvd, Marks GC, Green AC (2006). Food intake and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in a community: the Nambour skin cancer cohort study. Int J Cancer 119, 1953–1960.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kune GA, Bannerman S, Field B, Watson LF, Cleland H, Merenstein D et al. (1992). Diet, alcohol, smoking, serum beta-carotene, and vitamin A in male nonmelanocytic skin cancer patients and controls. Nutr Cancer 18, 237–244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert JD, Hong J, Yang G, Liao J, Yang CS (2005). Inhibition of carcinogenesis by polyphenols: evidence from laboratory investigations. Am J Clin Nutr 81, 284s–290s.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marchand LL, Saltzman BS, Hankin JH, Wilkens LR, Franke AA, Morris SJ et al. (2006). Sun Exposure, Diet, and Melanoma in Hawaii Caucasians. Am J Epidemiol (E-pub ahead of print).

  • Marks GC, Hughes MC, Van der Pols JC (2006). The effect of personal characteristics on the validity of nutrient intake estimates using a food-frequency questionnaire. Public Health Nutr 9, 394–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters JA (2005). Moderate drinking and cardiovascular disease. Annu Rev Nurs Res 23, 65–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNaughton SA, Marks GC, Gaffney P, Williams G, Green AC (2005). Antioxidants and basal cell carcinoma of the skin: a nested case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 16, 609–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merimsky O, Inbar M (1999). Alcohol intake-associated skin and mucosal cancer. Clin Dermatol 17, 447–455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukamal KJ (2006). Alcohol consumption and self-reported sunburn: a cross-sectional, population-based survey. J Am Acad Dermatol 55, 584–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Health and Medical Research Council (2003). Food for Health – Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults: Commonwealth of Australia.

  • Peterson NB, Trentham-Dietz A, Newcomb PA, Chen Z, Hampton JM, Willett WC et al. (2006). Alcohol consumption and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case–control study. Int J Cancer 119, 2423–2427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos J, Villa J, Ruiz A, Amstrong R, Matta J (2004). UV dose determines key characteristics of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 13, 2006–2011.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sahl WJ, Glore S, Garrison P, Oakleaf K, Johnson SD (1995). Basal cell carcinoma and lifestyle characteristics. Int J Dermatol 34, 398–402.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer-Sommers M (2005). Measurement of alcohol consumption: issues and challenges. Annu Rev Nurs Res 23, 27–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soleas GJ, Grass L, Josephy PD, Goldberg DM, Diamandis EP (2002). A comparison of the anticarcinogenic properties of four red wine polyphenols. Clin Biochem 35, 119–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staples MP, Elwood M, Burton RC, Williams JL, Marks R, Giles GG (2006). Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia: the 2002 national survey and trends since 1985. Med J Aust 184, 6–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern RS (1999). The mysteries of geographic variability in nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence. Arch Dermatol 135, 843–844.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thygesen LC, Albertsen K, Johansen C, Bronbaek M (2005). Cancer incidence among Danish brewery workers. Int J Cancer 116, 774–778.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of Agriculture (2003). USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods.

  • Valery PC, Neale R, Williams G, Pandeya N, Siller G, Green A (2004). The effect of skin examination surveys on the incidence of basal cell carcinoma in a Queensland community sample: a 10-year longitudinal study. J Invest Dermatol Symp Proc 9, 148–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willett WC (1998). Nutritional Epidemiology. Oxford University Press: New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zou G (2004). A modified poisson regression approach to prospective studies with binary data. Am J Epidemiol 159, 702–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the participants of the Nambour skin cancer study for their continued interest and support. We also thank Professor Gail Williams for her statistical support. Jolieke van der Pols was funded by a NHMRC Capacity Building Grant in Population Health Research (Grant number: 252834). This study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and World Cancer Research Fund International.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer and Population Studies Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia

    T M R Ansems, J C van der Pols, M C Hughes, T Ibiebele & A C Green

  2. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    T M R Ansems

  3. Division of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Longitudinal Studies Unit, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia

    J C van der Pols

  4. Division of International and Indigenous Health, Nutrition Unit, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia

    G C Marks

Authors
  1. T M R Ansems
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J C van der Pols
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M C Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T Ibiebele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G C Marks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A C Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J C van der Pols.

Additional information

Guarantors: JC van der Pols and AC Green.

Contributors: TMRA analysed the data and wrote the paper, JCvdP supported the analyses and wrote the paper, MCH and TI supported the analyses and assisted in writing the paper, GCM and ACG originated and designed the study and assisted in writing the paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ansems, T., van der Pols, J., Hughes, M. et al. Alcohol intake and risk of skin cancer: a prospective study. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 162–170 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602717

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602717

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links