A subtle shift in thinking is occurring in the world of skin cancer prevention--and as usual it is happening because there's no choice. After decades of insistence by health authorities that the way to lower skin cancer rates is to avoid sun and slather on layers of sunscreen, rates are still climbing. Now some authorities are admitting that perhaps there's a missing nutritional component in this battle. And, if a new study is any indication, one key nutrient in this nutritional component is Vitamin B3. The study, published in JAMA Dermatology in September 2025, followed more than 12,000 patients who began taking vitamin B3 twice daily for more than a month, then compared the data to more than 21,000 patients who did not. The patients were U.S. veterans, and the study was conducted using electronic health record data for those listed in the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse. Study details According to the study findings, the subjects taking vitamin B3 saw a 14% lower risk of developing any new skin cancer. The protective effect was most profound when started promptly after a first diagnosed skin cancer, resulting in a 54% drop in the risk of additional cancers. The effect was seen across both main skin cancer types but was particularly robust for squamous cell carcinoma, which can behave more aggressively and carries a greater risk of complications. The researchers, working from more than a dozen cooperating U.S. universities, noted that benefits faded if supplementation started only after multiple occurrences. This finding indicates that timing is an important factor. Commenting on vitamin B3's biological effects, the authors reported, "[Vitamin B3] bolsters the skin’s natural repair systems after UV damage, reduces inflammation, and helps the immune system detect and clear abnormal cells." The researchers also noted that while they have not abandoned the currently promoted cancer fighting tools--such as using sunscreen--they believe adding vitamin B3 daily supplementing is an easy low-cost step for most people. 2019 study An earlier 2019 study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers in Italy documented similar findings. In this study researchers tracked both vitamin B3 supplementing in animals and topical application on humans. In both cases the researchers documented a reduction in skin cancer incidence. Moreover, the researchers revealed that vitamin B3 supplementing prevented the immune-suppressive effects of ultraviolet light. "Oral [B3] administration reduces the level of UV-mediated immunosuppression and lowers the rate of non-melanoma skin cancers in high-risk patients," the scientists wrote in the study conclusion. "Therefore, [B3] replenishment strategy may be a promising approach for skin cancer chemoprevention." Other nutrients One aspect missing in both studies is a discussion on how other nutrients affect skin cancer rates. For example, vitamin D deficiency is very common, and it is another pivotal vitamin that has been linked to skin cancer reduction. In addition, the antioxidant benefits of vitamin C have been shown to offset UV damage. Is it possible that in the future the first line of action in fighting skin cancer will be an assessment of ALL nutrient deficiencies a patient is experiencing? Vitamin B3 and the NAD connection According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) is one of the water-soluble B vitamins. "Niacin is the generic name for nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, and related derivatives, such as nicotinamide riboside." All tissues in the body convert absorbed niacin into its main metabolically active form, the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). More than 400 enzymes require NAD to catalyze reactions in the body, which is more than for any other vitamin-derived coenzyme. NAD has been a growing area of research in recent years because it is so intrinsically related to energy, aging and cognitive function. You can find a complete B-vitamin complex from whole foods (including B3) in Methyl-B from Optimal Health Systems. Click the banner ad on this page to learn more. Sources for this article include: JAMA Dermatology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH.gov).   Â
