A VA study has found that nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, can significantly reduce skin cancer development in Veterans. The research involved over 12,000 patients over 25 years, all of whom had a history of skin cancer and had been exposed to nicotinamide. The study revealed an overall 14% reduction in the risk of developing new skin cancers. More notably, patients who began taking nicotinamide after their first skin cancer experienced a 54% reduction in the rate of new cancers. Dr. Lee Wheless, a staff physician at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, emphasized the importance of this finding, as Veterans are at a 70% higher risk for skin cancers compared to non-Veterans. Dr. Stokes Peebles, Associate Chief of Staff of Research and Development, highlighted the study’s significance for Veterans who often work in high sun exposure jobs. The findings suggest that affordable treatment options could greatly benefit Veterans, potentially reducing the number of skin cancer surgeries needed. Dr. Wheless expressed hope for advancing precision medicine in skin cancer treatment, aiming to lower the incidence of skin cancers among Veterans in the VA system.