An Australian study from 2015 reported a significant reduction in skin cancers in high-risk people. This study included 386 patients aged 30 to 91 years who had two or more non-melanoma skin cancers over the past 5 years and were therefore deemed high-risk. 500mg of niacinamide, a common form of vitamin B3, was given twice daily for 12 months. At the end of the study it was determined that the niacinamide reduced the rates of new basal-cell cancer and squamous-cell cancer diagnoses by 23% and reduced the rates of actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous lesion) by approximately 15%.
The authors of the study emphasized that niacinamide was used in this study, and not other type of B-vitamins, such as niacin. Continual treatment was also emphasized for maximal benefit.
Niacin, aka nicotinic acid, is naturally occurring form of vitamin B3 and an essential human nutrient. Niacin is found in many foods such as meat, poultry, fish, nuts, legumes and seeds, and fortified foods. Deficiency of niacin causes the disease Pellagra, which is defined by the 3 D’s: dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis. Pellagra can also cause one more D: death. This is the reason many foods are fortified with this essential vitamin. Niacin is also used to treat some people who have high cholesterol. Many find this treatment uncomfortable as large doses of niacin can cause flushing.
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