Vitamin B3 Reduces Skin Cancer Risk

In a recent large-scale Phase 3 tri­al¹ by the University of Sydney, a group of peo­ple who previously had basal cell car­ci­no­mas or squa­mous cell car­ci­no­mas were giv­en a form of Vitamin B3 for 12 months.

The results made inter­na­tion­al head­lines when the study found that the number of new

• Non-melanoma skin can­cers was reduced by approx­i­mate­ly 23%
• Basal cell car­ci­no­mas (BCC) were reduced by 20%
• Squa­mous cell car­ci­no­mas (SCC) were reduced by 30%

In addition, the number of pre-cancerous actinic keratosis lesions were reduced by 13%, and there was also a decrease in the number of these lesions forming.

(In another study, the same version of B3 has been shown to reduce solar keratoses by about 35% after two months of treatment.)

How Does B3 Reduce Skin Cancer Risk?

When your cells are work­ing as they should, your DNA instructs your cells to grow nor­mal­ly. How­ev­er, UV radi­a­tion from the sun can damage the DNA in your skin, and this damaged DNA results in the creation of skin cancers.

The good news is that this research shows that B3 may help to reduce the risk of skin cancer by helping the DNA repair itself.

(The study did not look at whether the rate of melanomas was also reduced, however anecdotal evidence from a local skin doctor, who is a Fellow of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia, suggests that it has a similar effect on this type of skin cancer as well.)

For those who have been previously diag­nosed with BCC or SCC, the ben­e­fits of vit­a­min B3 could liter­al­ly be life-changing. However, it is important to note that a certain type of B3 (nicoti­namide) and a certain dosage was needed to obtain these results. So to help prevent skin cancer, nicoti­namide should be given as a high-dose treat­ment rather than just as a basic sup­ple­ment.

If you have had a skin cancer, or have a family history of it, or if you just want to try and prevent any skin cancers developing, we suggest making an appointment with one of our naturopaths. Or even better, book in for a free Comprehensive Assessment first, so that we can gain a very detailed understanding of your body and how it is functioning, allowing us to precisely tailor any treatment you may have. (Terms and conditions- the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)

Be well, and have a great life!

References

¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4570055/