Taking a retinol supplement may cut the risk of developing melanoma, according to a new study.
The research by Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland which is published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found retinol supplements to reduce the risk of melanoma by 40% over a six-year period.
Analysis of 69,635 men and women who participated in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study in Washington found that 566 melanomas were recorded over an average 5.84 year follow-up. Participants who took a retinol supplement were found to have a 40% lower chance of developing melanoma and the risk for those who took a high dose supplement was 36% lower.
"Retinol supplementation may have a preventative role in melanoma among women," said the researchers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008, 59,695 people developed melanomas and 8,623 died.
