Nicotinamide is a B3 group vitamin. This has previously been shown to enhance skin DNA repair after UV exposure and help reduce the immune suppressive effects of sunlight on the skin.
In a recently reported phase III study people who have had 2 or more non-melanoma skin cancers in the last 5 years were studied for subsequent skin cancer development. Those given nicotinamide 500mg 2x’s a day had a 23% reduction in subsequent non-melanoma skin cancers along with around a 15% reduction in actinic keratoses compared to those given placebo.
It was well tolerated.
This was only a 12-month study. One question that needs to be answered is whether these nicotinamide benefits can be maintained if treatment with this vitamin is continued. Stopping the nicotinamide at 12 months saw the loss of benefits.
A Martin. J Clin Oncol 33, 2015 (suppl; abstr 9000)
