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Home » Retinol supplements may protect against skin cancer
The Facts:
- The impact of retinol intake on melanoma risk was evaluated in almost 70,000 people over the age of 50 who consumed vitamin A through either dietary or supplementary methods.
- Retinol intake from supplements was associated with a reduction in melanoma risk that was stronger in women than in men, and in sun-exposed versus sun-protected parts of the body.
- Interestingly, dietary intake of vitamin A (from liver, eggs and milk) or carotenoids (carrots and tomatoes) had no impact on melanoma risk.
Dr Shaun Holt: As I say in almost every issue of this review, associations do not PROVE that there is a causal effect, and controlled trials are needed for this proof, but they certainly provide strong clues. This study found such an association - people who took retinol regularly were 60 per cent less likely to develop skin cancer, rising to 74 per cent of people who took the highest doses. Certainly very interesting, and if proved to be correct, this would be a major step forward in the fight against melanoma, which in many countries is the cancer whose rate is increasing the fastest.
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/jid201221a.html
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