Positive Health Online

Abstract

MAZIERE and colleagues, Labaoratoire de Toxicologie Alimentaire, Universite Bordeaux I, Talence, France write that the mechanism by which vitamin A prevents or delays carcinogenesis is still unclear. Vitamin A, in addition to antimutagenic and antiproliferative properties, also appears to be able to induce programmed cell death (apopotosis) . The authors studied the role of vitamin A regarding in vitro apoptosis induction in a rat colon tumour cell line.

Background

Methodology

Retinyl palmitate in varying concentrations were added to the culture media. Cell proliferation was measured via (3H)thymidine incorporation, cell differentiation via intestinal alkaline phosphatase expression and apoptosis induction by DNA fragmentation and morphological evolution of adherent and floating cells.

Results

Vitamin A decreased (3H)thymidine incorporation following 1 day of treatment, induced alkaline phosphatase expression and increased cells undergoing apoptosis.

Conclusion

This study confirms the role of vitamin A regarding proliferation and demonstrates vitamin As capacity to induce apoptosis. These results may be useful to prevent development of colon cancer by supplementation of the diet with vitamin A.

References

Maziere S et al. Vitamin A and apoptosis in colonic tumor cells. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 67(4): 237-41. 1997.

Comment

Despite the ever-burgeoning documentation in the literature regarding the molecular regulation of cancer cells by vitamins including vitamin A, we are still regaled weekly by media reports of the dangers of taking vitamins! Could it be that the budgets of the PR companies of the anti-supplement brigade exceed those in the natural healthcare professions? Write to your MPs constantly, or we will soon wake up to see vitamins and herbs banned!