"Vitamin A supplements could reduce the risk of developing the deadly skin cancer melanoma according to a new study. The results show that people taking vitamin A were  percent less likely to develop melanoma https over the sixyear study. People who had taken the vitamin but werent currently taking it did not gain any protective effect.  The reduced risk was more pronounced in women than men. This is promising evidence that in addition to sun protection https theres another option that can help prevent melanoma said Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio a dermatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center who was not involved with the study.   Vitamin A is found in foods such as sweet potato carrots spinach milk eggs and liver. The vitamin plays an important role in vision bone health immune function and reproduction but high doses of it can be toxic.  The study appears today March  in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Genetics could increase melanoma risk Melanoma https is the sixth leading cause of cancer in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society. About  cases of melanomas will be diagnosed this year based on recent estimates. In the study researchers examined about  men and women and after about six years  had developed melanoma. Among the  people in the study who had never taken vitamin A supplements there were  cases of melanoma while among the  people who were currently taking it and had used it regularly over the past  years there were  cases. Study researcher Dr. Maryam Asgari a dermatologist and research scientist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland said the protective effect might be stronger in women than men because men may be more susceptible to skin damage https from ultraviolet radiation. She pointed to a recent animal study that suggests females may have more natural antioxidant protection in the skin than males. The new study also found the melanoma risk was reduced the most in those who took high doses of the supplement. But Asgari cautioned that taking too much vitamin A could lead to such harmful conditions as birth defects liver problems and bone loss. There are limits to how much vitamin A a person can consume she said. The recommended daily amount of vitamin A is  micrograms for adult women and  micrograms for adult men according to the National Institutes of Health. Taking more than  micrograms of vitamin A could lead to toxic symptoms in adults. Genetic risk Reducing sunlight exposure has long been recommended to reduce the risk of melanoma. This includes limiting time in direct sunlight wearing sun block and avoiding tanning beds.  Unfortunately not all melanoma is a result of sun exposure. There is also a strong genetic component Mercurio said. Even the most vigilant sunavoider is at risk especially if they are fairskinned freckle easily and have red or blonde hair. Although she said the studys findings were compelling she cautioned its not clear how much vitamin A might bring a benefit. We dont know yet the optimal dosage Mercurio said. Further studies will clarify how much vitamin A in the form of a supplement would be of benefit for melanoma prevention.  Pass it on Vitamin A may help lower the risk of developing melanoma."