A newly released study linked regular consumption of citrus fruits with an increased risk for melanoma.
The findings, however, did not indicate whether citrus caused the potentially deadly form of skin cancer, and the study's lead author said it should be interpreted with caution.
The analysis, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, used data from about 63,000 women and 41,000 men between the mid-1980s and 2010.
Of the participants, those who consumed citrus between two to four times per week had a 10 percent increased risk for melanoma.
Senior author Dr. Abrar Qureshi, of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, said citrus foods contain chemicals known to make the skin more sensitive to the sun.
Still, Qureshi and other experts said more studies were needed and did not recommend changing fruit consumption habits. Instead, they urged people who eat citrus to take extra precaution regarding sun protection.
"The citrus can't hurt you without the excessive sun exposure," Qureshi said.