Runner's World has reported before that runners may be at an elevated risk of skin cancer, especially those who fail to apply sunscreen before every run (even during the winter). A new study correlates drinking coffee—quite a bit of it, at least four cups per day—with a reduced risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, included 447,357 non-Hispanic whites. Researchers followed up with the participants after a median period of 10.5 years and found that the coffee-drinkers were about 20 percent less likely to have developed melanoma than those who didn't drink coffee. The protective effect only occurred with caffeinated coffee. (However, less than one percent of all subjects received a melanoma diagnosis during the study period, so the change in the absolute risk was very small.)

"Research has shown that coffee has many bioactive compounds: polyphenols, diterpenes, trigonelline, and caffeine," says Fayne L. Frey, MD, a runner and dermatologist based in West Nyack, New York. "The fact that the decaffeinated coffee was not associated with the benefit suggests that caffeine may be the ingredient responsible. Research shows that caffeine has a 'sunscreen effect' by inhibiting abnormally bonded DNA that may result in mutations that lead to skin cancer development. These studies also show caffeine can enhance the elimination of precancerous cells."

But Dr. Frey doesn't recommend giving yourself the jitters in the name of sun protection. "There are many effects of heavy caffeine intake, including insomnia, restlessness, stomach upset, fast heart rate, and muscle tremors." And even if you are a regular coffee drinker, it's still important to play it safe in the sun. Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, Senior Vice President of The Skin Cancer Foundation, issued this statement in response to the study and reinforces the group's recommendation to adopt "a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use."

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