A groundbreaking study at Sydney University published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found that Vitamin B3 found in abundance in Vegemite and beer can reduce the risk of skin cancer by 23 per cent.
The researchers performed the tests on 380 patients at high risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. A high dose of vitamin B3 pill taken twice a day reduced the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer, slashing the number of pre-cancerous sun spots by 15 per cent in those taking nicotinamide, in addition to B3.
In the study 368 patients who had at least two non-melanoma skin cancers in the last five years were randomly assigned to daily nicotinamide placebo pill for 12 months.
The vitamin pills are safe and already available over the counter in pharmacies for around $10 per bottle.
“This is the first clear evidence that we can reduce skin cancers using a simple vitamin, together with sensible sun protection,” says study author Dr Diona Damian.
Vitamin B3 is found in meat, fish and nuts but can also be obtained from Vegemite and beer.
To get the same high dose of 500 milligrams twice a day as used in the trial, however, one would have to eat a kilo of Vegemite per day.
“You can’t get more patriotic than that,” Dr Damian said.
The study was not designed to test whether the vitamin would benefit people in the general population who have not had skin cancer or whether it could help prevent melanoma but Dr Damian says she hopes to carry out such research in the future.
However, she admits she and her fellow researchers are using the vitamin.
Source: Herald Sun