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Evid Based Med 2000;5:91 doi:10.1136/ebm.5.3.91
  • Therapeutics

Daily use of β carotene supplements did not prevent skin cancer, but daily sunscreen use reduced the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas

(1999) Lancet 354, 723. Green A, Williams G, Neale R, et al.. Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial.. Aug 28;. :. –9.


 
 QUESTION: In healthy adults, does the daily use of sunscreen or β carotene supplements prevent skin cancer?

Design

Randomised (allocation concealed*), blinded (outcome assessor),* placebo controlled trial with a 2×2 factorial design and 4.5 year follow up.

Setting

Subtropical Queensland, Australia.

Participants

1621 participants (mean age 49 y, 56% women) who were 20 to 69 years of age when they completed a skin cancer survey in 1986, had completed a second survey in 1992, and had a complete skin examination by a dermatologist with removal of all diagnosed tumours of the skin. Follow up was 85%.

Intervention

Participants were allocated to 1 of 4 groups: daily use of sun protection factor 15 plus broad spectrum sunscreen (to cover exposed sites on head, neck, arms, and hands) and β carotene, one 30 mg tablet/day (n=404); daily sunscreen and placebo tablets (n=408); β carotene …

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