Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40284161›Full record

SynthesisNutrients2025

The Impact of Dietary Intake of Furocoumarins and Furocoumarin-Rich Foods on the Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma: A Systematic Review.

Isabelle Kaiser, Anja Rappl, Lena S Bolay, Annette B Pfahlberg, Markus V Heppt, Olaf Gefeller

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Isabelle KaiserDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2866-7299
Anja RapplDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0009-0008-0114-1821
Lena S BolayDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Annette B PfahlbergDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2234-1215
Markus V HepptDepartment of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4603-1825
Olaf GefellerDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8985-7582

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesFurocoumarins, chemical compounds found in many plant species, have a photosensitizing effect on the skin when applied topically and, by interacting with ultraviolet radiation (UVR), stimulate melanoma cells to proliferate. Whether dietary intake of furocoumarins acts as a melanoma risk factor has been investigated in several epidemiological studies, which are synthesized in our systematic review.

methodsThe study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023428596). We conducted an in-depth literature search in three databases coupled with forward and backward citation tracking and expert consultations to identify all epidemiological studies, irrespective of their design, addressing the association between a furocoumarin-containing diet and melanoma risk. We extracted information on the study details and results in a standardized manner and evaluated the risk of bias of the results using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools.

resultsWe identified 20 publications based on 19 different studies providing information on the association between dietary furocoumarin intake and melanoma risk. We refrained from a meta-analytical synthesis of the results because of the large heterogeneity in exposure assessment, operationalization of furocoumarin intake in the analyses, and analytical methods of the studies. In a qualitative synthesis, we found moderate evidence supporting the notion that dietary furocoumarin intake at higher levels acts as a risk factor for cutaneous melanoma.

conclusionsOur systematic review provides an overview of the current epidemiological evidence, but it could not clearly answer whether and to what extent dietary furocoumarin intake increases melanoma risk. Future epidemiological analyses focusing on this topic require more comprehensive dietary and UVR exposure data to better characterize the individual total furocoumarin intake and its interplay with UVR exposure patterns.

Indexed as

DietFurocoumarinsMelanomaSkin NeoplasmsCutaneous Malignant MelanomaHumansRisk FactorsFurocoumarinscitrus fruitscutaneous melanomadietfurocoumaringrapefruitsultraviolet radiation

Identifiers

PMID40284161
PMCPMC12030158

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.