Could supplementary fish oil, vitamin D3, B3 and aspirin have a major effect on reducing the incidence and progression of skin cancer?

Could supplementary fish oil, vitamin D3, B3 and aspirin have a major effect on reducing the incidence and progression of skin cancer?

Russell Setright

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and even with the increased compliance with the sun-safe message and the increased use of sun block products the incidence of skin cancer in Australia is increasing with the total number of Non-melanoma skin cancer treatments estimated to double by 2016 compared to 1997(1). Are there additional messages that should be given?

UV exposure from the Sun is a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma and other non-melanoma skin cancers. However, the evidence that moderate sun exposure causes melanoma is inconclusive(2) 

There is some evidence that non-burning regular sun exposure such as obtained in the early morning and later in the afternoon seems to have a protective effect against skin cancer(3) and that progression of malignant melanoma is associated with  significantly reduced 25(OH)vit D serum levels  that adds to the growing body of evidence that 25(OH)vit D serum levels may be of importance for pathogenesis and progression of malignant melanoma(4)

Ultra violet radiation from the sun  initiates DNA damage in skin cells and suppresses cell-mediated immunity, allowing sun damaged cells and cancer cells to escape immune destruction(5) therefore controlling this immune destruction and resulting inflammation may be a key preventative measure in skin cancer prevention(6).

Emerging data suggest that fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids), vitamin D status and the use of aspirin may have a positive effect in reducing the incidence of both melanoma and other non-malignant skin cancers. These data are discussed in the following.

FISH OIL AND SKIN CANCER RISK

Studies have reported that high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil are associated with reduced skin cancer risk. These polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce the suppression of cell-mediated immunity after UV exposure(5)(6)

A new study (Pilkington SM 2013) examined 5g of supplementary fish oil (omega -3s) in humans in a 3 month clinical trial. After exposing the participants to various doses of UV exposure, it was found those in the supplemented omega-3 group had significantly less photo-immunosuppression compared to the placebo group. Photo-immunosuppression describes the suppression of cell-mediated immunity on the skin in response to UV. The authors concluded that Oral omega−3 PUFAs appear to abrogate photo-immunosuppression in human skin, providing additional support for their chemopreventive role(5)

VITAMIN D AND SKIN CANCER

Cancers diagnosed in the summer and autumn had a significantly better prognosis than cancers diagnosis in the winter and spring. This was tentatively attributed to sun-induced vitamin D. It seems that vitamin D mainly affects tumour progression.

 There is evidence that excessive sun exposure increases the risk of skin damage, ageing and skin cancers. Excessive exposure to sunlight causing sunburn at any time in life increases a person's risk of developing skin cancer. However, people who experience intermittent exposure to high levels of UV radiation such as tanning on the beach on the weekend, appear to be at greater risk while those who experience continual exposure to lower levels even if the total dose of UV radiation is the same, have the lowest incidence of melanoma. That is, non-burning regular sun exposure such as obtained in the early morning and later in the afternoon seems to have a protective effect against skin cancer And, a moderate amount of unblocked sunlight may actually be beneficial to most people, and could reduce the risk of many other diseases – including, paradoxically, melanoma itself(3)

Supplementary vitamin D3 and calcium; one study involving 1,200 healthy postmenopausal women who took daily supplements of calcium (1,400 mg or 1,500 mg) and vitamin D3  1,100 IU or a placebo for 4 years. The results found women who took the supplements had a 60 per cent lower overall incidence of cancer(6)(7)

ASPIRIN AND SKIN CANCER

A study that included 59,806 Caucasian women found, after adjusting for co-factors,  those who took aspirin were less likely to develop melanoma skin cancer during a follow up of  12 years . This study reported that women who used aspirin had a 21 per cent lower risk of melanoma relative to non-users. Also, the use of aspirin more than five years had a 30 per cent lower melanoma risk(8)

Vitamin B and skin cancer
 A simple oral dose of an active form of vitamin B3 may be the secret to stopping people with significant sun damage from developing some forms of skin cancer.

New research from the University of Sydney 22nd October 2015 New England Journal of Medicine.has found that a high dose of vitamin B derivative nicotinamide can prevent up to a quarter of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Nicotinamide is an active form of vitamin B3 that is commonly found in meat, fish, nuts and mushrooms, as well as some vegetables.

DISCUSSION

It would appear that immune modulation and inflammation control is an important risk management strategy in reducing the risk of skin cancer development and progression.

In addition to sensible and non-burning sun exposure, the roll of supplementary vitamin D3, fish oil, aspirin and vitamin B3 in cancer risk reduction is becoming more evident, and although further research is always needed, the data to date is compelling.

The information given by Naturopath Russell Setright in this article is for general educational purposes only and not for the treatment of any disease or condition. Always see your Healthcare Practitioner for any suspected disease accident or condition and follow there expert advice.

1.       Marloes Fransen, et al. Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia. Med J Aust 2012; 197 (10): 565-568.

2.       Garland FC. et al. Occupational sunlight exposure and melanoma in the U.S. Navy. Arch Environ Health. 1990 Sep-Oct;45(5):261-7.

3.       Article, Prevention & Early Detection, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre 2008

4.       Nürnberg B, et al. Progression of malignant melanoma is associated with reduced 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels.Exp Dermatol. 2008 Jul;17(7):627

5.       Pilkington SM et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral omega-3 PUFA in solar-simulated radiation-induced suppression of human cutaneous immune responses. AJCN, 2013

6.       Setright R, Is There A Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic In Australia, And If So, Is This A Major Contributing Factor To Disease? Setright Letter, 2010 April;05:12:1-10

7.       Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: Results of a randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007; 85(6):1586–1591.

8.       Christina A. Gamba et al. Aspirin is associated with lower melanoma risk among postmenopausal Caucasian women. Cancer, 2013