Sun Protection in a Pill?

Our Review Summary

Sunscreen in a pill sounds very appealing – no more messy sunscreen. But to say that this supplement is still only experimental would be an understatement. To date, the only research that has been conducted has been in very small numbers of people (and animals) in experimental conditions, not the real world. Furthermore, little is known about how the pill compares to sunscreen. This story does a fair job of reporting on this approach while providing the reader with some cautionary information.

The story does mention that the supplement is available over the counter and describes the cost of treatment – $60 for 60 pills. The story should have compared this cost to sunscreen.

Although the story does mention the obvious alternative – sunscreen – it does not mention protective clothing, umbrellas, hats, or just staying out of the sun. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force endorses many interventions to reduce risk of sun-related cancers, all of which are less costly alternatives to the dietary supplement covered in this article.

The story mentions two small but ‘rigorously designed’ studies, but this is not sufficient. To say they were small would be an understatement. Each study had 10 patients or fewer and were exposed to light under experimental conditions, not the real world and the results were not blinded. So the claims on which this article was based may be significantly overstated, although published in a peer-reviewed journal. The article relies heavily on information provided by the lead author of the study, whose work, at least, was funded by the manufacturer. We do not know that the other expert turned to for evaluation of this product is devoid of financial interest in this product. It would have been preferable to quote a spokesperson for an academic society or non-profit organization to provide some additional perspectives. The story does not quantify the benefits of treatment. The story says that “so far no negative side effects have been reported”. This is insufficient information on the harms (or potential harms) of the supplement.

Because this is a “dietary supplement” the company avoids the scrutiny of the FDA. That was not mentioned in the story, but should have been.