Vitamin E: A dark horse at the crossroad of cancer management

Eduardo Cardenas, Rita Ghosh

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

It appears that the story on vitamin E and its role in human health remains incomplete. It is apparent that vitamin E supplementation involves many variables, some of which include its uptake from the intestine, the preference for α-tocopherol, transport by tocopherol specific proteins and lipid transporters and the differential metabolism of different vitamin E isoforms. The fundamental differences within population genetics can have significant implications for the effect that dietary supplementation might have on human health. When evaluating the efficacy of vitamin E prophylactic or therapeutic use in previous and future studies, it is critical to consider dosage to be administered, form of vitamin E and source (such as whether from synthetic or purified from natural sources). Further studies are needed to determine the effects of all vitamin E isoforms on cell growth, tumorigenicity, to clarify its possible use as an adjuvant to existing chemotherapeutics. The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study Group and Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) studies along with the numerous studies of vitamin E should help guide the next chapter of vitamin E research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)845-852
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Pharmacology
Volume86
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Cancer prevention
  • Cancer therapy
  • Tocopherol
  • Tocotrienol
  • Vitamin E transport proteins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

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