Association between Vitamin A and cancer: A review

Abstract

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble micronutrient vital for the immune system, cellular differentiation, epithelial barrier function, and eyesight; they also play a significant function as a potent antioxidant regulating oxidative stress and the onset of cancer. There are two ways to get it through food: Provitamin A (beta-carotenoid) and preformed Vitamin A (retinol and retinyl ester). Uncontrolled cell proliferation and the development of metastatic features are characteristics of cancer initiated by agents such as aflatoxin, tobacco smoke’s carcinogenic compounds, and solar ultraviolet radiation. Vitamin A, an antioxidant vitamin, is hypothesized to exert chemo-preventive effects and reduce the risk of cancer by preventing tissue damage through the capture of organic free radicals, an end-product of numerous metabolic processes. This review is performed to investigate the association between Vitamin A and cancer. From March 2017 to March 2022, relevant articles were searched through PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. All the studies involving Vitamin A and cancer were included in this review. Intake of Vitamin A was significantly inversely associated with improved cancer prognosis. The present review demonstrates that there is an inverse association between Vitamin A and cancer treatment.