ORANGE JUICE DRINKERS ARE 36% MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP SKIN CANCER

Many of us are enjoying a big glass of orange juice or grapefruit juice for breakfast every morning, but a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology stated that people who consume high amounts of grapefruit or orange juice are one third more likely to develop melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

Melanoma and Facts

Melanoma develops in the pigment-containing cells called melanocytes that produce melanin giving the skin its color. Melanoma, which is black or brown and can also be skin-colored, red, pink, blue, purple or white, typically occurs in the skin but may sometimes occur in the mouth, eyes or intestines. The exact cause of all melanomas is not clear, but intense exposure to UV rays from sunlight or tanning lamps and beds develops the risk of melanoma. If the cancer is not treated early, it can advance and spread throughout other parts of the body where it becomes hard to cure and can be deadly.

Here are a few more facts about melanoma.

--According to the American Cancer Society, more than 135,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year in the US. In 2015, an estimation of 73,870 cases of melanoma will be invasive- involving 42,670 cases in males and 31,200 cases in females.

--Caucasians are 20 times more likely at risk to develop melanoma than African Americans.

--Each year, melanoma kills an estimated 9,940 Americans.

Melanoma and Citrus fruit intake

Researchers analyzed data from a Nurses’ Health Study of 63,810 women conducted between 1984 and 2010 and a Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 41,622 men conducted between 1986 and 2010. Those participants had to complete a dietary questionnaire once every four years. According to the study, one serving of citrus fruit was equal to one orange, half a grapefruit or one 6-ounce glass of orange or grapefruit juice. They also had to complete a questionnaire once every two years focusing on their lifestyle factors such as smoking habits, medical history and physical activity. Eventually, researchers discovered:

--1,840 participants developed melanoma during the 24 to 26 –year follow up.

--Participants consuming more servings of oranges, grapefruits or juices were at a higher risk of melanoma. Those consuming the fruits and their juices at least 1.6 times daily had a 36% higher risk of this cancer.

--Those who were prone to sunburns and consumed high amounts of whole grapefruit had the highest risk of melanoma.

--Eating whole grapefruit was linked to a higher risk of developing melanoma; however, the risk wasn’t associated with any lifestyle factors such as smoking habits, age, alcohol and coffee consumption.

Researchers were more concerned about why orange juice and grapefruit can aid in the development of melanoma. They found that psoralens and furocoumarins present in the fruits may make the skin more sensitive to the sun and more prone to sunburns. Both substances are potential carcinogens found in both mice and humans. They will interact with UV radiations to trigger melanoma cells to proliferate.

Note: This study doesn’t mean you should stop enjoying your morning citrus intake- researchers still stress the urge for further research. Therefore, if you have a habit of drinking a glass of orange juice each morning, don’t stop for fear of getting melanoma because there are other factors that increase the risks of getting melanoma.

Melanoma Prevention Tips

--Stay in the shade: UV rays are the strongest between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. If you are outside during those hours, seek shade.

--Keep newborns and young children out of the sun: Sunburns at young ages can develop one’s risk of melanoma later years.

--Cover up and wear sunscreen: Wear SPF 30 sunscreen, UV sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat.

--Visit your doctor every year: Go and take a skin test to diagnose early if the cancer develops.