Vitamin A Pill may Reduce Skin Cancer Risk

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests that taking a vitamin A pill every day may reduce the risk of skin cancer among women.

The study was led by Dr Maryam Asgari from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, who analyzed the effect of vitamin A supplements among 69,600 men and women between 50 and 76 years of age.

The researchers found that a compound, known as retinol, present in vitamin A reduced the risk of skin cancer among women by as much as 60 percent. "Our data suggest a possible interaction between supplemental retinol use and the anatomic site of melanoma, with sun-exposed sites showing a stronger protective effect than sun-protected sites. It may be that retinol's effects may be mediated by sunlight exposure. This intriguing possibility warrants further exploration in future studies", Dr Asgari said.

Source: Medindia