The association between the vitamin B1 intake and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been steadily increasing in recent years, primarily due to global climate change and heightened exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This trend is particularly pronounced among Caucasians, whose lack of melanin in skin cells renders them more susceptible to UV-induced damage. Although NMSC is associated with low mortality, its high incidence imposes a significant economic burden on society. Consequently, identifying novel risk factors and predictors has become increasingly important. Growing attention has been directed toward the relationship between diet and diseases, including cancer. While research on dietary factors and NMSC has gained momentum, studies specifically examining the link between vitamin B1 intake and NMSC remain limited. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential association between vitamin B1 consumption and the risk of developing NMSC.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing data from six cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database spanning 2005 to 2016. Out of 60,936 participants initially identified, 30,982 individuals who did not meet the study criteria were excluded, resulting in a final sample of 29,954 participants. In this study, the exposure variable was vitamin B1 intake. This was calculated by counting the amount of vitamin B1 contained in food consumed over a 24-h period. Outcome variable was presence of non-melanoma skin cancer. For the analysis of bivariate variables, multiple linear regression models were primarily employed. Additional analyses included curve fitting and subgroup analysis to further explore the relationships and trends.

Results: The mean age of participants included in the analysis was 49.66 years, with an approximately equal male-to-female ratio. Among these, 499 individuals were diagnosed with NMSC, with a mean age of 68.27 years and a prevalence rate of 1.67%. The probability of having NMSC was positively correlated with vitamin B1 consumption, according to logistic regression analysis. Specifically, an 11% increased incidence of NMSC was linked to every unit increase in vitamin B1 consumption. The risk rose by up to 1.65 times in those with high vitamin B1 consumption, making this link more noticeable. A linearly positive relationship between vitamin B1 consumption and NMSC risk was found using smoothed curve fitting. Subgroup analyses confirmed that this positive association remained consistent across different population subgroups.

Conclusion: This study identified a positive association between vitamin B1 intake and NMSC. However, due to the inherent limitations of cross-sectional studies, further prospective studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship.

Keywords: NHANES; cross-sectional study; dietary; non-melanoma skin cancer; vitamin B1.

Figure 1

Participant selection flow chart.

Figure 2

The generalized additive model fits a smooth curve. The fitted curve was indicated by the red line, and 95% confidence intervals were shown by the two blue lines. Model adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, educational level, family PIR, drinking alcohol status and dietary supplement use.

Figure 3

Subgroups analyses. In the subgroup analysis stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational level, family PIR, hypertension status, BMI, smoking status, drinking alcohol status, diabetes, dietary supplement use, daily energy intake, and the model is not adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational level, family PIR, hypertension status, BMI, smoking status, drinking alcohol status, diabetes, dietary supplement use, daily energy intake, respectively.