News Release

March 25, 2003

Source: University of Guelph

Extra niacin could help prevent treatment-related cancers, study finds

People undergoing chemotherapy may be able to reduce the risk of developing treatment-related cancers by taking supplements of the B vitamin niacin, research by a University of Guelph scientist reveals.

In a study published in the journal Mutation Research, James Kirkland, a human biology and nutritional sciences professor, changed the niacin status of rats receiving cancer treatments. He found that DNA damage is more severe in bone marrow with low niacin levels and that development of other cancers is enhanced.