 |
Vitamin A1913, Elmer McCollum identified this essential nutrient. The vitamin plays an important role in hormonal balance creation, as it is essential in the creation of thyroid hormones. A vitamin is also important in skin health, one of the most visible targets for an anti aging regimen to address. The topical applications of A vitamin in cosmetics, or vitamin A derivatives, are absorbed through the skin and increase the rate of skin turnover, and gives a temporary increase in collagen giving a more youthful appearance. As an immune defense ingredient, it is also involved in maintaining a number of immune cell types from both the innate and acquired immune systems. These include the lymphocytes (B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells), as well as many myelocytes (neutrophils, macrophages, and myeloid dendritic cells). The body can make A vitamin from beta carotene, which is helpful, as vitamin A has been found toxic in excessive amounts. However, latest research has suggested that you can't rely on beta carotene for your A vitamin intake, as people convert from 0% to at best 11 % of beta carotene into vitamin A, according to biochemist Betty Burri of the USDA and the University of California at Davis. In fact, mega doses of beta carotene may even promote cancer, notably in heavy smokers, according to studies. Vitamin A - StudiesAlbanes D, Heinonen OP, Taylor PR. Alpha-Tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements and lung cancer incidence in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study: effects of base-line characteristics and study compliance. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88(21):1560-1570 Antoon AY, Donovan DK. Burn Injuries. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company; 2000:287-294. Arora A, Willhite CA, Liebler DC. Interactions of beta-carotene and cigarette smoke in human bronchial epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis. 2001;22(8):1173-1178. Ayello EA, Thomas DR, Litchford MA. Nutritional aspects of wound healing. Home Healthc Nurse. 1999;17(11):719-729. Barrowman J, Broomhall J, Cannon A, et al. Impairment of vitamin A absorption by neomycin. Clin Sci. 1972;42:17P. Berger M, Spertini F, Shenkin A, et al. Trace element supplementation modulates pulmonary infection rates after major burns: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. AmJ Clin Nutr. 1998;68:365-371. Bershad SV. The modern age of acne therapy: a review of current treatment options. Mt Sinai J Med. 2001;68(4-5):279-286. Bousvaros A, Zurakowski D, Duggan C. Vitamins A and E serum levels in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease: effect of disease activity. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1998;26:129-135 Carman JA, Pond L, Nashold F, Wassom DL, Hayes CE. Immunity to Trichinella spiralis infection in vitamin A-deficient mice. J Exp Med. 1992;175(1):111-120. Ciaccio M, Tesoriere L, Pintaudi AM, et al. Vitamin A preserves the cytotoxic activity of adriamycin while counteracting its peroxidative effects in human leukemic cells in vitro. Biochem Molecular Bio Int. 1994;34(2):329-335. Congdon NG, West KP. Nutrition and the eye. Curr Opin Opthamol. 1999;10:484-473. Coutsoudis A, Broughton M, Coovadia HM. Vitamin A supplementation reduces measles morbidity in young African children: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;54(5):890-895. Cumming RG, Mitchell P, Smith W. Diet and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2000;107(3):450-456. de Menezes AC, Costa IM, El-Guindy MM. Clinical manifestations of hypervitaminosis A in human gingiva. A case report. J Periodontol. 1984;55(8):474-476. De-Souza DA, Greene LJ. Pharmacological nutrition after burn injury. J Nutr. 1998;128:797-803. Drott PW, Meurling S, Kulander L, Eriksson O. Effects of vitamin A on endotoxaemia in rats. Eur J Surg. 1991;157(10):565-569. Fawzi WW. Vitamin A supplementation and child mortality. JAMA. 1993;269:898–903. Fawzi WW, Mbise RL, Hertzmark E, et al. A randomized trial of vitamin A supplements in relation to mortality among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and uninfected children in Tanzania. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1999;18:127–133. Flood A, Schatzkin A. Colorectal cancer: does it matter if you eat your fruits and vegetables? J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92(21):1706-1707. Fortes C, Forastiere F, Agabiti N, et al. The effect of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on immune response in an older population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998;46:19–26. French AL, Kirstein LM, Massad LS, et al. Association of vitamin A deficiency with cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(4):1084-1089. Frieling UM, Schaumberg DA, Kupper TS, Muntwyler J, Hennekens CH. A randomized, 12-year primary-prevention trial of beta carotene supplementation for nonmelanoma skin cancer in the Physicians' Health Study. Arch Dermatol. 2000;136(2):179-184. Futoryan T, Gilchrest BA. Retinoids and the skin. Nutr Rev. 1994;52:299–310. Gabriel EP, Lindquist BL, Abud RL, Merrick JM, Lebenthal E. Effect of vitamin A deficiency on the adherence of fimbriated and nonfimbriated Salmonella typhimurium to isolated small intestinal enterocytes. J Ped Gastroenterol Nutr. 1990;10:530-535. Genser D, Kang M-H, Vogelsang H, Elmadfa I. Status of lipidsoluble antioxidants and TRAP in patients with Crohn's disease and healthy controls. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999;53:675-679. Hanekom WA, Potgieter S, Hughes EJ, Malan H, Kessow G, Hussey GD. Vitamin A status and therapy in childhood pulmonary tuberculosis. J Pediatr. 1997;131(6):925-927. Harrell CC, Kline SS. Vitamin K—supplemented snacks containing olestra: implication for patients taking warfarin [letter]. JAMA. 1999;282(12):1133-1134. Harris JE. Interaction of dietary factors with oral anticoagulants: Review and applications. Perspectives in Practice. 1995;95(5):580-584. Hatchigian EA, Santon JE, Broitman SA, Vitale JJ. Vitamin A supplementation improves macrophage function and bacterial clearance during experimental Salmonella infection. PSEBM. 1989;191:47-54. Hunter DJ, Manson JE, Colditz GA, et al. A prospective study of the intakes of vitamins C, E, and A and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:234-240. Hussey GD, Klein M. A randomized, controlled trial of vitamin A in children with severe measles. N Engl J Med. 1990;323(3):160-164. Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001. Accessed on February 14, 2002 at http://www4.nas.edu/IOM/IOMHome.nsf/ Kang S, Fisher GJ. Voorhees JJ. Photoaging: pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. Clin Geriatr Med. 2001;17(4):643-659. Karyadi E, West EC, Schultink W, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of vitamin A and zinc supplementation in persons with tuberculosis in Indonesia: effects on clinical response and nutritional status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;75:720-727, Kune GA, Bannerman S, Field B, et al. Diet, alcohol, smoking, serum beta-carotene, and vitamin A in male nonmelanocytic skin cancer patients and controls. Nutr Cancer. 1992;18:237-244. Jacques PF. The potential preventive effects of vitamins for cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1999;69(3):198-205. Jalal F, Nesheim MC, Agus Z, Sanjur D, Habicht JP. Serum retinol concentrations in children are affected by food sources of beta-carotene, fat intake, and antihelmintic drug treatment. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;68(3):623-629. Jänne PA, Mayer RJ. Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(26):1960-1968. Jimenez-Jimenez FJ, Molina JA, de Bustos F, et al. Serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and vitamin A in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol. 1999;6:495-497. Kindmark A, Rollman O, Mallmin H, et al. Oral isotretinoin therapy in severe acne induces transient suppression of biochemical markers of bone turnover and calcium homeostasis. Acta Derma Venereol. 1998;78:266–269. Kune GA, Bannerman S, Field B, et al. Diet, alcohol, smoking, serum beta-carotene, and vitamin A in male nonmelanocytic skin cancer patients and controls. Nutr Cancer. 1992;18:237-244. Kuroki F, Iida M, Tominaga M, et al. Multiple vitamin status in Crohn's disease. Dig Dis Sci. 1993;38(9):1614-1618. Leo MA, Lieber CS. Alcohol, vitamin A, and beta-carotene: adverse interactions, including hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69(6):1071-1085. Mahmood T, Tenenbaum S, Niu XT, Levenson SM, Seifter E, Demetriou AA. Prevention of duodenal ulcer formation in the rat by dietary vitamin A supplementation. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1986;10(1):74-77. Macsai MS, Agarwal S, Gamponia E. Bilateral corneal ulcers in primary vitamin A deficiency. Cornea. 1998;17(2):227-229. McLaren DS. Vitamin A deficiency disorders. J Indian Med Assoc. 1999;97(8):320-323. Melhus H, Michaelsson K, Kindmark A, et al. Excessive dietary intake of vitamin A is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk for hip fracture. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129:770–778. Meyer NA, Muller MJ, Herndon DN. Nutrient support of the healing wound. New Horizons. 1994;2(2):202-214. Meyskens FL Jr, Kopecky KJ, Appelbaum FR, Balcerzak SP, Samlowski W, Hynes H. Effects of vitamin A on survival in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia: a SWOG randomized trial. Leuk Res. 1995;19(9):605-612. Meyskens FL Jr, Surwit E, Moon TE, et al. Enhancement of regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II (moderate dysplasia) with topically applied all-trans-retinoic acid: a randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1994;86(7):539-543. Michels KB, Giovannucci E, Joshipura KJ, et al. Prospective study of fruit and vegetable consumption and incidence of colon and rectal cancers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92:1740-1752. Moon TE, Levine N, Cartmel B, et al. Effect of retinol in preventing squamous cell skin cancer in moderate-risk subjects: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1997;6(11):949-956. Muggeo M, Zenti MG, Travia D, et al. 1995. Serum retinol levels throughout 2 years of cholesterol-lowering therapy. Metab. 1995;44(3):398-403. Nagata C, Shimizu H, Higashiiwai H, et al. Serum retinal level and risk of subsequent cervical cancer in cases with cervical dysplasia. Cancer Invest. 1999;17(4):253-258. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Facts About Dietary Supplements: Vitamin A and Carotenoids. December 2001. Accessed on February 14, 2002 at http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/intro.html. Palan PR, Mikhail MS, Goldberg GL, Basu J, Runowicz CD, Romney SL. Plasma levels of beta-carotene, lycopene, canthaxanthin, retinol, and alpha- and tau-tocopherol in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 1996;2:181-185. Patrick L. Beta-carotene: the controversy continues. Altern Med Rev. 2000;5(6):530-545. Patrick L. Nutrients and HIV:Part 2—vitamins A and E, zinc, B-vitamins, and magnesium. Altern Med Rev. 2000;5(1):39-51. Patty I, Benedek S, Deak G, et al. Cytoprotective effect of vitamin A and its clinical importance in the treatment of patients with chronic gastric ulcer. Int J Tissue React. 1983;5:301-307. Persson V, Ahmed F, Gebre-Medhin M, Greiner T. Relationships between vitamin A, iron status and helminthiasis in Bangladeshi school children. Public Health Nutr. 2000;3(1):83-89. Physicians' Desk Reference. 53rd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Co., Inc.;1999:857-859. Pizzorno JE, Murray MT. Textbook of Natural Medicine. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 1999:1007-1018. Prakash P, Krinsky NI, Russell RM. Retinoids, carotenoids, and human breast cancer cell cultures: a review of differential effects. Nutr Reviews. 2000;58(6):170-176. Pratt S. Dietary prevention of age-related macular degeneration. J Am Optom Assoc. 1999;70:39-47. Rai SK, Nakanishi M, Upadhyay MP, et al. Effect of intestinal helminth infection on retinol and beta-carotene status among rural Nepalese. Nutr Res. 2000;20(1):15-23. Ramakrishna BS, Varghese R, Jayakumar S, Mathan M, Balasubramanian KA. Circulating antioxidants in ulcerative colitis and their relationship to disease severity and activity. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1997;12:490-494. Redlich CA, Chung JS, Cullen MR, Blaner WS, Van Benneken AM, Berglund L. Effect of long-term beta-carotene and vitamin A on serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels among participants in the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET). Atherosclerosis. 1999;143: 427-434. Rock CL, Dechert RE, Khilnani R, Parker RS, Rodriguez JL. Carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins in patients after burn injury. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1997;18(3):269-278. Rock CL, Michael CW, Reynolds RK, Ruffin MT. Prevention of cervix cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2000;33(3):169-185. Rojas AI, Phillips TJ. Patients with chronic leg ulcers show diminished levels of vitamins A and E, carotenes, and zinc. Dermatol Surg. 1999;25(8):601-604. Saurat JH. Retinoids and psoriasis: novel issues in retinoid pharmacology and implications for psoriasis treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999;41(3 Pt 2):S2-S6. Schlagheck TG, Riccardi KA, Zorich NL, Torri SA, Dugan LD, Peters JC. Olestra dose response on fat-soluble and water-soluble nutrients in humans. J Nutr. 1997;127(8 Suppl):1646S-1665S. Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD, Hiller R, Blair N, Burton TC, Farber MD, Gragoudas ES, Haller J, Miller DR, Yannuzzi LA, Willett W. Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. JAMA. 1994;272:1413-1420. Segasothy M, Phillips PA. Vegetarian diet: panacea for modern lifestyle diseases? QJM. 1999;92(9):531-544. Semba RD. Vitamin A, immunity and infection. Clin Infect Dis. 1994;19:489–499. Simsek M, Naziroglu M, Simsek H, Cay M, Aksakal M, Kumru S. Blood plasma levels of lipoperoxides, glutathione peroxidase, beta carotene, vitamin A and E in women with habitual abortion. Cell Biochem Funct. 1998;16(4):227-231. Smith MA, Parkinson DR, Cheson BD, Friedman MA. Retinoids in cancer therapy. J Clin Oncol. 1992;10(5):839-864. Smith W, Mitchell P, Webb K, Leeder SR. Dietary antioxidants and age-related maculopathy: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1999;106(4):761-767. Sowers MF, Lachance L. Vitamins and arthritis: The roles of vitamins A, C, D, and E. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1999;25(2):315-331. Stratton SP, Dorr RT, Alberts DS. The state-of –the art in chemoprevention of skin cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2000;36(10):1292-1297. Sturniolo GC, Mestriner C, Lecis PE, et al. Altered plasma and mucosal concentrations of trace elements and antioxidants in active ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1998;33(6):644-649. Suan EP, Bedrossian EH Jr, Eagle RC Jr, Laibson PR. Corneal perforation in patients with vitamin A deficiency in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 1990;108(3):350-353. Tang G, Serfaty-Lacrosniere C, Camilo ME, Russell RM. Gastric acidity influences the blood response to a beta-carotene dose in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996;64(4):622-626. Thornquist MD, Kristal AR, Patterson RE, et al. Olestra consumption does not predict serum concentrations of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in free-living humans: early results from the sentinel site of the olestra post-marketing surveillance study. J Nutr. 2000;130(7):1711-1718. Thurnham DI, Northrop-Clewes CA. Optimal nutrition: vitamin A and carotenoids. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999;58:449-457. Tyrer LB. Nutrition and the pill. J Reprod Med. 1984;29(7 Suppl):547-550. van Dam RM, Huang Z, Giovannucci E, et al. Diet and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a prospective cohort of men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(1):135-141. VanEenwyk J, Davis FG, Bowen PE. Dietary and serum carotenoids and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Int J Cancer. 1991;48(1):34-38. van Zandwijk N, Dalesio O, Pastorino U, de Vries N, van Tinteren H. EUROSCAN, a randomized trial of vitamin A and N-acetylcysteine in patients with head and neck cancer or lung cancer. For the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck and Lung Cancer Cooperative Groups. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92(12):959-960. Villamor E, Fawzi WW. Vitamin A supplementation: implications for morbidity and mortality in children. J Infect Dis. 2000;182 Suppl 1:S122-S133. Wolff KM, Scott AL. Brugia malayi: retinoic acid updake and localization. Exp Parasitol. 1995;80(2):282-290. Wright DH. The major complications of coeliac disease. Bailleres Clin Gastroenterol. 1995;9(2):351-369. Zambou NF, Mbiapo TF, Lando G, Tchana KA, Gouado I. Effect of Onchocerca volvulus infestation on plasma vitamin A concentration in school children in a rural region of Cameroon [in French]. Cahiers Santé. 1999;9:151-155. Zhang S, Hunter DJ, Forman MR, et al. Dietary carotenoids and vitamins A, C, and E and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91(6):547-556. Zouboulis CC. Retinoids--which dermatological indications will benefit in the near future? Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2001;14(5):303-315.
|