According to new research from the University of Sydney, Nicotinamide (VitB3), a vitamin found in meats, nuts grains and cereals may be more effective than sunscreen in preventing skin cancer. The water soluble vitamin B3 works to protect the immune system and prevent damage from both UVA and UVB radiation and can be taken in tablet form or added to sunscreen.

Associate Professor Diona Damian of the University of Sydney said, "UV radiation in sunlight suppresses the skin's immune system and makes it more susceptible to skin cancer. Our research found that nicotinamide can prevent the immunosuppressive effects of UV by energizing cells so they maintain their immunity."

Tests undertaken on volunteers using nicotinamide both as a lotion and in tablet form showed equally strong protection, against both UVB and UVA. Sunscreens protect against UVB rays which cause sunburn and skin cancer but they are not as effective in protecting against UVA, which also causes skin cancer. "UV radiation in sunlight suppresses the skin's immune system and makes it more susceptible to skin cancer," she said. "Our research found that nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) can prevent the immunosuppressive effects of UV by energizing cells so they maintain their immunity."

The results were presented at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting and Prof. Damian said, "Sunscreens currently provide very good protection against UVB, which causes sunburn and skin cancer, but are less effective in protecting against UVA, which can also cause skin cancer."Nicotinamide is relatively cheap to produce, so there is potential for example to incorporate it into sunscreen to boost its effectiveness against UVA. She added, "Nicotinamide is well tolerated, so could also be taken orally as a supplement, particularly by people who have higher susceptibility to skin cancer."

The next challenge for the researchers would be to see nicotinamide’s effectiveness as a treatment for solar keratoses or sunspots, which are common lesions that sometimes progress to skin cancer. "At this very early stage the damage is not irreversible and we believe nicotinamide may be effective for both the treatment and the prevention of sunspots."