Dietary Supplement Found Effective for Skin Cancer Prevention

Published in the JAMA Dermatology journal, this new study provides strong evidence that the vitamin B3 derivative nicotinamide can help prevent certain types of skin cancer. Dermatologists have recommended the supplement since 2015, when a small clinical trial showed it reduced new cancer occurrences in people with a history of the disease. However, large-scale data confirming this has been difficult to collect. Researchers have now overcome that challenge by analyzing patient records from the United States Veterans Affairs health system.

The latest study examined 33,833 patients and compared outcomes between those who took nicotinamide and those who did not. Overall, the supplement was linked to a 14 percent reduction in skin cancer risk, with a much stronger 54 percent reduction when taken after a first skin cancer diagnosis. The benefit was greatest for preventing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, though it declined when patients started nicotinamide after multiple cancer recurrences. These results suggest that earlier use of the supplement could significantly improve prevention strategies for high-risk patients.

To read more about the use of nicotinamide to prevent skin cancer, see this article from 2015 on our website.