Common, Over-the-Counter Supplement Reduces Skin Cancer Recurrence
Essential for cellular energy production, nicotinamide (or niacinamide) is a form of vitamin B3 that supports the function of the heart, blood vessels, and metabolism. Previously, studies have established over-the-counter nicotinamide tablets as effective for treating and managing a variety of health conditions, including high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, acne, and rosacea. Most recently, a September 2025 cohort study published in JAMA Dermatology linked nicotinamide supplementation to a reduction of skin cancer recurrence.
Every day, 9500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans now estimated to receive a diagnosis within their lifetime. Furthermore, for common cancers like Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), recurrence rates are especially high, and the risk of recurrence increases with each additional cancer.
The study aimed to evaluate whether taking nicotinamide supplements would decrease recurrence rates for SCC, BCC, and all skin cancers combined. Using electronic health record data from 33,822 veteran patients who had prior skin cancer diagnoses, researchers compared outcomes between individuals with and without nicotinamide exposure.
Every day, 9500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans now estimated to receive a diagnosis within their lifetime. Furthermore, for common cancers like Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), recurrence rates are especially high, and the risk of recurrence increases with each additional cancer.
The study aimed to evaluate whether taking nicotinamide supplements would decrease recurrence rates for SCC, BCC, and all skin cancers combined. Using electronic health record data from 33,822 veteran patients who had prior skin cancer diagnoses, researchers compared outcomes between individuals with and without nicotinamide exposure.
Image Source: Ximena Mora
Firstly, the study found that taking 500mg of nicotinamide twice daily for a period of over 30 days resulted in a 14% reduction in overall skin cancers. Specifically, a 22% reduction was recorded for SCC. While no significant reduction was reported for BCC, the study did report a strong, 50% reduction in benefit for all skin cancers when nicotinamide supplementation was started after the first skin cancer. However, with more skin cancer diagnoses, the benefit of early supplementation decreased, disappearing after the 7th-8th cancer.
The strengths of the study include its largest sample size to date for nicotinamide, the availability of prescription data, and detailed data across multiple types of cancers. However, the study also had its limitations. Since the data was taken from a veteran health record, the population was skewed towards older white males, which may limit the outcomes’ generalizability. In addition, since nicotinamide is an over-the-counter supplement, some members of the control group could have been ingesting it without prescription, thus introducing potential for underestimation in the study. To address potential sources of uncertainty and determine whether nicotinamide can also act as a preventative agent for skin cancer, the authors are currently designing a new trial, which will include a randomized database and actual pathology reports.
Overall, however, the study concluded that, especially when started early, nicotinamide supplementation can significantly reduce skin cancer recurrence. Thus, because of its over-the-counter accessibility, the supplement can act as a safe, inexpensive way to reduce recurrence for millions of skin cancer patients.
The strengths of the study include its largest sample size to date for nicotinamide, the availability of prescription data, and detailed data across multiple types of cancers. However, the study also had its limitations. Since the data was taken from a veteran health record, the population was skewed towards older white males, which may limit the outcomes’ generalizability. In addition, since nicotinamide is an over-the-counter supplement, some members of the control group could have been ingesting it without prescription, thus introducing potential for underestimation in the study. To address potential sources of uncertainty and determine whether nicotinamide can also act as a preventative agent for skin cancer, the authors are currently designing a new trial, which will include a randomized database and actual pathology reports.
Overall, however, the study concluded that, especially when started early, nicotinamide supplementation can significantly reduce skin cancer recurrence. Thus, because of its over-the-counter accessibility, the supplement can act as a safe, inexpensive way to reduce recurrence for millions of skin cancer patients.
Featured Image Source: cottonbro studio
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