The well-documented benefits of vitamin B3 for managing cholesterol and diabetes are now joined by compelling evidence of its role in preventing certain skin cancers, as revealed in recent scientific research.
This breakthrough was presented at the World Cancer Congress in Chicago last week, stemming from a rigorous Australian study led by Sydney-based dermatologists and highlighted by Le Parisien. The research demonstrated vitamin B3's effectiveness against carcinomas, which account for 90% of skin cancers. Naturally found in poultry, calf's liver, and cereals, this vitamin offers a promising preventive option.
While less aggressive than melanoma—progressing slowly without metastasis risk—carcinomas still demand attention. Linked to excessive sun exposure, they primarily affect those over 50 with at-risk skin. In France, over 65,000 new cases arise annually; in Australia, more than half the population is impacted. Standard care includes sun protection, dermatologist oversight, and surgery, with frequent relapses often necessitating repeat procedures for high-risk individuals.
Dermatologists have long recognized vitamin B3 (nicotinamide)'s value in alleviating side effects of conditions like lucite (sun allergy) and protecting the immune system from ultraviolet rays' DNA-damaging effects, which can trigger cancerous cell growth.
The study involved 386 high-risk patients, averaging 66 years old, each with at least two prior carcinomas in the past five years. Half received 500 mg of vitamin B3 daily. After 12 months, new skin cancers dropped by 23% in the treatment group.
