Can orange juice increase the risk of cancer? Study says yes

Orange juice is one of the most consumed beverages in Brazilian homes and bars in the mornings - along with coffee and milk. Grapefruit and tangerine are other fruits that are often on the menu of many people around the world. But if a study is correct, it might be time to change some habits a bit.

Researchers published an article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicating a possible connection between the consumption of citrus fruits and the malignant melanoma tumor, which appears on the skin.

Before you throw away oranges and tangerines, understand that the study did not find out whether foods are the cause of skin cancer - and that much work is still needed to confirm the true connection.

One of the authors of the research is Dr. Abrar Qureshi of Rhode Island Hospital and Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. "Cutaneous melanoma is a high-risk form of skin cancer. Although there are several advanced treatments for melanoma, sunscreen prevention and check-ups are still recommended, " Qureshi commented.

Methodology

The survey used data from more than 63, 000 women and 41, 000 men from 1980 to 2010. The results were collected from samples of participants' diets - some questions touched on the issue of oranges and grapefruit consumption.

After 30 years of accompanying men and women, 1, 800 cases of melanoma were discovered. In addition, every person who consumes citrus fruits two to four times a week has a 10% higher risk of cancer - once a day, the risk rises to 36%. Among all fruits, grapefruit was the most frequent among people with melanoma.

"We are not recommending that you change your consumption of these foods, as they are important for health. But until we understand this better, those who eat these fruits regularly need to be more careful about sun exposure, " said the doctor. .

According to research, oranges and grapefruits have furocoumarins, a compound that can make the person who consumes it more sensitive to sunlight.