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Coffee, tea and caffeine intake and the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer: a review of the literature and meta-analysis

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An Erratum to this article was published on 09 May 2017

Abstract

Purpose

Laboratory studies suggested that caffeine and other nutrients contained in coffee and tea may protect against non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). However, epidemiological studies conducted so far have produced conflicting results.

Methods

We performed a literature review and meta-analysis of observational studies published until February 2016 that investigated the association between coffee and tea intake and NMSC risk. We calculated summary relative risk (SRR) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) by using random effects with maximum likelihood estimation.

Results

Overall, 37,627 NMSC cases from 13 papers were available for analysis. Intake of caffeinated coffee was inversely associated with NMSC risk (SRR for those in the highest vs. lowest category of intake: 0.82, 95 % CI 0.75–0.89, I 2 = 48 %), as well as intake of caffeine (SRR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.80–0.91, I 2 = 48 %). In subgroup analysis, these associations were limited to the basal cell cancer (BCC) histotype. There was no association between intake of decaffeinated coffee (SRR 1.01, 95 % CI 0.85–1.21, I 2 = 0) and tea (0.88, 95 % CI 0.72–1.07, I 2 = 0 %) and NMSC risk. There was no evidence of publication bias affecting the results. The available evidence was not sufficient to draw conclusions on the association between green tea intake and NMSC risk.

Conclusions

Coffee intake appears to exert a moderate protective effect against BCC development, probably through the biological effect of caffeine. However, the observational nature of studies included, subject to bias and confounding, suggests taking with caution these results that should be verified in randomized clinical trials.

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Abbreviations

NMSC:

Non-melanoma skin cancer

BCC:

Basal cell carcinoma

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

UVR:

Ultraviolet radiation

MOOSE:

Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology

RR:

Relative risk

CI:

Confidence intervals

SRR:

Summary relative risk

STROBE:

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies

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Authors contributions

SC and SG conceived the study, conducted the literature search, and extracted the data. SG performed the statistical analyses. SC drafted the first version of the manuscript. All the authors participated to the writing of the manuscript and critically reviewed and approved its final version.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Research and Prevention Institute (ISPO), Via delle Oblate 2, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Saverio Caini, Benedetta Bendinelli, Giovanna Masala, Melania Assedi & Domenico Palli

  2. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy

    Sofia Cattaruzza

  3. Division of Dermatoncological Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Giulio Tosti

  4. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Patrizia Gnagnarella & Sara Gandini

  5. Skin Cancer Unit, Scientific Institute of Romagna for the Study and Treatment of Cancer, IRCSS, IRST, Meldola, Italy

    Ignazio Stanganelli

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  1. Saverio Caini
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  2. Sofia Cattaruzza
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Correspondence to Saverio Caini.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1439-6.

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Caini, S., Cattaruzza, S., Bendinelli, B. et al. Coffee, tea and caffeine intake and the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer: a review of the literature and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr 56, 1–12 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1253-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1253-6

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