Common vitamin found in nuts and seeds can help protect against skin cancer, finds study

A major new study has ignited fresh excitement about the power of a simple snack—nuts and seeds—in cutting the risk of skin cancer. It turns out that a common vitamin packed into almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, cashews and more does a whole lot more than just boost everyday health—it helps shield skin from damaging UV rays and may reduce cancer risk.So, which vitamin is starring in all these recent headlines? It’s vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinamide. Seeds are a rich natural source of this versatile nutrient, which plays a crucial role in keeping skin, nerves, and digestion healthy. Researchers recently published findings that taking nicotinamide (a vitamin B3 form widely available in nuts and seeds) was linked with a reduced risk of developing certain types of skin cancer. The research, led by a team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tracked over 33,000 U.S. veterans and found that those taking B3 supplements had a 14% lower risk of skin cancer. For people who’d previously had skin cancer, the reduction in risk shot up to 54%. That’s a serious benefit for something as accessible and affordable as a common vitamin. Here’s the short explanation: Vitamin B3, especially in its nicotinamide form, helps skin cells repair the DNA damage that sun exposure can cause—damage that often sets the stage for skin cancer down the road. By supporting natural repair processes in the skin and boosting cell resilience, B3 offers a pretty solid line of defense against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays."I was very surprised at the degree of risk reduction," says study author Dr. Lee Wheless, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a staff physician at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System VA Medical Center told NPR.The findings of the study has been published in JAMA Dermatology. Researchers wanted to know if taking nicotinamide pills could lower the chances of getting new skin cancers. They tracked a large group of people, including those who had already battled skin cancer before, to see if regularly taking this vitamin made a meaningful difference. The results were pretty exciting! People who took nicotinamide had a lower risk of developing new skin cancers compared to those who didn’t. If someone had already had a skin cancer diagnosis, the protective effect was even stronger. Specifically, there was about a 14% reduction in overall risk, and for people with a history of skin cancer, the risk could be cut down by more than half when taking vitamin B3 supplements.Nicotinamide is especially helpful for: people at high risk for skin cancer (like those who’ve had it before) and older adults or people with lots of sun exposureAlways talk to a doctor before starting new supplements, just to make sure it fits personal health needs.