An article recently published online first in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID), reveals that supplementation with retinol, a type of vitamin A, may play a role in reducing melanoma rates among women.
According to the study authors, who are affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Northern California, previous research has demonstrated that intake of vitamin A and carotenoids may have chemopreventive benefits against melanoma. The researchers followed 69,635 men and women for an average of 5.84 years of follow-up, during which 566 cases of incident melanoma were identified. According to the study abstract in JID, “Baseline use of individual retinol supplements was associated with a significant reduction in melanoma risk (HR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.41–0.89).” High-dose retinol supplementation was also associated with a reduction of melanoma risk (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55–1.00) in comparison to non-users. The reduction in risk of melanoma was stronger in sun-exposed sites, according to the authors.
No association between melanoma risk and dietary or total intake of vitamin A or carotenoids was observed. Writing in JID, the researchers conclude: “Retinol supplementation may have a preventative role in melanoma among women.”
