Vitamin B3 tied to lower skin cancer risk
A new peer‑reviewed study in JAMA Dermatology using more than 33,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patient records (1999–2024) found that oral nicotinamide (vitamin B3) at 500 mg twice daily was associated with a modestly lower incidence of common skin cancers and a substantially lower recurrence risk when started after a first skin‑cancer diagnosis. The researchers — including investigators at Vanderbilt and using VA data — matched exposed and unexposed patients on demographics and clinical risk factors and report specific relative‑risk reductions for basal and squamous cell carcinomas.
Health
Science
📰 Sources (1)
Common vitamin shown to slash skin cancer risk in some groups, study suggests
New information:
- Data source: VA electronic health records covering 1999–2024 and >33,000 veterans
- Exposure definition: 12,287 patients took nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily for >30 days versus 21,479 non‑exposed controls
- Findings: ≈14% lower overall risk of basal and squamous cell skin cancers; 54% lower recurrence risk when nicotinamide was initiated after the first skin‑cancer diagnosis