Many medical practitioners who perform skin cancer surgeries often recommend nicotinamide (a form of Vitamin B3) to their patients. That’s because it tends to protect cells from UV radiation damage.
Meanwhile, a new study, published in JAMA Dermatology, has found that this supplement is linked to a reduction in non-melanoma skin cancers among people who have already had skin cancer. According to the study, those who took 500 mg of nicotinamide twice daily, for at least one month, had a 54% reduced risk of developing another skin cancer, compared to patients who did not take the supplement.
Overall, among the participants in the study, a 14% reduction in skin cancer risk was observed. The reduction was observed in non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. However, the biggest reduction was in squamous cell cancers.
Before this study, several studies in the past decades have suggested that Vitamin B3 supplements have the tendency to protect against skin cancer. A randomized clinical trial carried out in Australia, published in 2015, that included about 386 people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancers, pointed to a reduced risk of new skin cancers based on the results. The findings led many doctors to recommend Vitamin B3 supplements to their patients.
In a statement made by Dr Sarah Arron, a dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay area, who performs surgery on people with skin cancers, she said the new study provides stronger evidence and adds more clarity. She also explained that the growing body of literature suggests that routine recommendation of nicotinamide as secondary prevention for all patients with skin cancer is advised, and that earlier initiation will have a stronger effect.
However, one unanswered question is whether Vitamin B3 supplements are beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer for people who have never been diagnosed with skin cancer. Regarding that, more research is needed to confirm this claim.
