Vitamin B3 can protect skin cells from UV-induced skin cancer

London, Nov 1 : A form of vitamin B3 can protect skin cells from the effects of ultraviolet (UV) exposure which is the main risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancers, reveals new research.
Researchers in Italy isolated cells (human primary keratinocytes) from the skin of patients with non-melanoma skin cancers.
These cells were treated with three different concentrations of nicotinamide (NAM) — a form of vitamin B3 — for 18, 24, and 48 hours and then exposed to UVB.
Results showed that pre-treatment with 25 micron (µM) of NAM 24 hours before UV irradiation protected the skin cells from the effects of UV-induced oxidative stress, including DNA damage.
NAM enhanced DNA repair, demonstrated by decreased expression of the DNA repair enzyme OGG1.
Furthermore, it decreased antioxidant expression and blocked local inflammation by showing decreased nitric oxide (NO) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and reduced iNOS protein expression.