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Abstract
Intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may modify the risk of basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC and SCC), but population-based evidence is limited and inconsistent. We examined prospectively associations between intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids estimated from food frequency questionnaires and BCC and SCC incidence among 1322 randomly selected adults in Nambour, Australia. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated based on histologically confirmed tumors diagnosed between 1997 and 2007. Incidence of BCC was lowest in the middle third of both total omega-6 intake (RRmv.adj = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.97) and linoleic acid intake (RRmv.adj = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57–0.99) compared with the lowest third of intake. Evidence for associations with SCC was weak, though persons with arachidonic acid intake in the middle third had a marginally increased risk of SCC (RRmv.adj = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.00–2.02). Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids was not associated with subsequent skin cancer risk. Suggestion that intake of arachidonic acid may be associated with increased SCC incidence and total omega-6 with reduced BCC from our study is still highly uncertain and may be due to chance. These data do not support an association between these fatty acids and risk of BCC or SCC.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the Nambour Skin Cancer Study participants for their support. We also extend our gratitude Prof. Gail Williams for statistical advice and Prof. Geoffrey Marks for his role in initiating the original Nambour study (School of Population Health, University of Queensland).
This research was conducted at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia. This study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (data collection) and World Cancer Research Fund International (data analysis). S. C. Wallingford and A. C. Green were supported by a fellowship from the Medical Research Council, UK (no. 89912).