THURSDAY, September 18, 2025 (News) — Patients who take nicotinamide show a lower risk of developing skin cancer, particularly when the treatment begins following the initial occurrence of skin cancer, as reported in a study released online on September 17 inJAMA Dermatology.
Kimberly F. Breglio, M.D., D.Phil., affiliated with the Durham VA Medical Center in North Carolina, along with other researchers, carried out a retrospective cohort study to assess the clinical effectiveness of nicotinamide supplementation in preventing skin cancer among the general population and individuals who have undergone solid organ transplants. The research involved 12,287 patients who took oral nicotinamide at a dose of 500 mg twice daily for over 30 days, and 21,479 matched patients who were not exposed to the supplement.
Researchers identified 10,994 cases of basal cell carcinoma and 12,551 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) in the matched dataset following exposure to nicotinamide. In the matched group, 1,334 individuals (3.9 percent) were recipients of solid organ transplants. A notable 14 percent decrease in skin cancer risk was observed overall. The risk reduction rose to 54 percent when nicotinamide was started after a first skin cancer; however, this benefit decreased when the treatment was initiated after additional skin cancers. The risk reduction was evident for all types of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and cSCC, with the highest reduction seen in cSCC. No significant overall risk reduction was noted among solid organ transplant recipients; however, a lower incidence of cSCC was associated with early use of nicotinamide.
The increasing number of studies indicates that nicotinamide should be regularly advised as a secondary prevention method for all individuals diagnosed with skin cancer, with earlier use leading to better outcomes,” writes Sarah T. Arron, M.D., Ph.D., from the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group in California, in an accompanying editorial. “Incorporating this new data into patient discussions can be simple within the framework of skin cancer treatment. Imagine making a phone call to a patient who has just received their first diagnosis of skin cancer. … This is a perfect moment to suggest nicotinamide, as the patient may be most open to receiving this information.
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