Melanoma

Overview

Vitamin A and Vitamin C do not appear to prevent melanoma recurrence or reduce mortality based on available studies in people who have had melanoma removed. Low Vitamin D levels are linked with higher melanoma risk, though supplementation after surgery did not prevent recurrence in one small trial.

Vitamin B9 (Folate) with vitamins B6 and B12 daily may lower melanoma risk by about half in one analysis, though dietary folate associations are mixed, especially in men. The heatmap and evidence reviews below compare these findings.

Effect graph

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Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Vitamin D	★★★★★	Low
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	★★★★★	Low
Vitamin C	★★★★★	Very Low / None
Vitamin A	★★★★★	Very Low / None

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Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

4 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

Vitamin B9 (Folate)View supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceMediumTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Research suggests that taking folic acid supplements along with vitamins B6 and B12 daily may lower the risk of melanoma by about half.
However, studies looking at folate from food have shown mixed results, with some finding a higher risk of melanoma with more dietary folate, especially in men.
Vitamins B6 and B12 alone do not appear to reduce melanoma risk.
More research is needed to fully understand how these vitamins affect melanoma risk.

Browse 1 study1 meta-analysis

MetaFolic acid supplementation and cancer risk: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials2013n=49

A meta-analysis of 49 studies found that however, a significantly reduced risk was observed for melanoma (three trials, n = 19,128, 0.47; 0.23-0.94, p = 0.03).

Effect: Benefit
Participants: 49

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Vitamin DView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceMediumTrustMedium

Evidence Review

It is unclear if vitamin D helps people with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
Studies show that low vitamin D levels are linked to a higher risk of getting melanoma.
But a small study giving vitamin D to people who had surgery for melanoma found that taking vitamin D did not help prevent the cancer from coming back.

Browse 2 studies1 meta-analysis

MetaVitamin D insufficiency and serum levels related to the incidence and stage of cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis2023

A meta-analysis of 14 studies found vitamin D insufficiency was associated with higher cutaneous melanoma incidence and less favorable Breslow tumor depth.

Effect: Benefit
Population: Adults

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RCTVitamin D Supplementation and Disease-Free Survival in Stage II Melanoma: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial2021n=104

In a 3-year RCT of 104 stage II melanoma patients, adjuvant 100,000 IU vitamin D3 every 50 days raised 25(OH)D but did not significantly improve disease-free survival overall.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 3 years
Dose: 100000 IU/day
Population: Melanoma patients
Participants: 104
Avg age: 50±5

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Vitamin AView supplement →

Do not purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeVery Low / NoneEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

For patients who have had melanoma completely removed, taking vitamin A by mouth daily does not help prevent the disease from coming back or improve survival.
Studies found no difference between those taking vitamin A and those not taking it.

Browse 1 study

RCTRandomized trial of vitamin A versus observation as adjuvant therapy in high-risk primary malignant melanoma: a Southwest Oncology Group study1994n=48

A randomized trial of 48 found that 100000 IU/day for 18 months there was no difference in disease-free survival or overall survival between the two groups.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 18 months
Dose: 100000 IU/day
Population: Adults
Participants: 48

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Vitamin CView supplement →

Do not purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeVery Low / NoneEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Taking vitamin C every day does not decrease the chance of getting melanoma or dying from it.
A long-term study in older men found no difference between those who took vitamin C (alone or with vitamin E) and those who took placebo.

Browse 1 study

RCTVitamin E and C supplementation and risk of cancer in men: posttrial follow-up in the Physicians' Health Study II randomized trial2014

Post-trial follow-up of Physicians' Health Study II found neither 500 mg/day vitamin C nor 400 IU vitamin E every other day affected cancer mortality.

Effect: No Benefit
Dose: 400 IU/day
Population: Men
Ages: ≥50

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Evidence visualised

Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.

Purchase-guidance distribution

How many supplements fall in each purchase band

Effect-size distribution

How large the reported benefits tend to be

Study distribution across 4 supplements for melanoma (5 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Vitamin D	★★★★★48%	2	1	40%
Vitamin A	★★★★★32%	1	0	20%
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	★★★★★48%	1	1	20%
Vitamin C	★★★★★32%	1	0	20%

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Overview

Effect graph

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Studies

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