Written by Jessica Patella, ND.
Summer is the time of year people are going to the beach or spending time by the pool. Along with packing sunscreen in your beach bag, recent research shows you might want to consider adding some supplements to your bag, too. A recent study published by the American Academy of Dermatology found that grape seed extract and multi-vitamins may decrease the risk of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) (1).
A case-controlled study* was conducted to determine if supplement use was associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) risk. The study included 830 participants, 415 of which were randomly selected from Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospital who were diagnosed with SCC (ages 43-85). The 415 control participants did not have any type of skin cancer diagnosis and were matched based on age, sex and race (1).
Participants reported if they had regularly (at least once a week) used the following supplements for 3 or more months over the past 10 years: multivitamins, grape seed extract, vitamins A, C, D, and/or E.
Researchers discovered a borderline significant protective effect for multivitamin use and decreasing the risk of SCC (odds ratio 0.71; 95% confidence interval 0.51-1.00; P=0.049) (1). The most significant protective effect was observed with grape seed extract. Participants who took grape seed extract had a 69% lower odds of SCC, compared to non-users (odds ratio 0.31; 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.94; P=0.039) (1). There was no significant association between supplementation with Vitamin A, C, D, or E and SCC (1).
Grape seed extract is derived from the seeds of grapes (vitis vinifera). Grape seed extract was well tolerated in an 8-week clinical trial, although side effects have been reported with grape seed extract supplementation and include headache; dry, itchy scalp; hives; nausea and dizziness (2). Grape seed extract also may decrease platelet adhesion, meaning it can act as a blood thinner. Therefore, it may pose additional risk for people already taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin, aspirin, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or other anti-platelet drugs (1).
In conclusion, grape seed extract supplementation was associated with a decreased risk of squamous cell carcinoma and there was also a slight decreased risk associated with multivitamin supplementation (1). This is the first study of its kind to evaluate grape seed extract and its association with squamous cell carcinoma (1). Further research needs to be conducted to determine the optimal dose, frequency and duration of supplementation needed to obtain these results (1)
*Case-controlled studies are used to identify factors that may contribute to a medical condition by comparing subjects who have that condition (SCC) with patients who do not have the condition (no skin cancer) but are otherwise similar in terms of age, sex, race and other demographics.
Source: Asgari, Maryam M., et al. “Supplement use and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 65.6 (2011): 1145-1151.
© 2010 American Academy of Dermatology
Posted July 14, 2011.
References:
- Asgari M, et al. Supplement use and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. 2011 J Am Acad Dermatol doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.009
- National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Herbs at a glance: grape seed extract. Available from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/grapeseed/#cautions
