Overview

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 9 Researches
7.6
USERS' SCORE
Moderately Good
Based on 4 Reviews
7.3
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Softgel
Amount Per Serving
%DV
Vitamin A (100% as Beta-Carotene)(from Blakeslea trispora and Sunflower Oil)
7,500 mcg
833%

Top Medical Research Studies

9
Vitamin A mitigates lung cancer
We aimed to understand how all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a form of vitamin A, influences lung cancer development caused by benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) exposure in mice. The study involved a thorough examination of the overall health of the mice, including body and organ weights, blood tests, and tissue analysis for any signs of damage or inflammation.

In our observations, B(a)P significantly harmed the mice, leading to weight loss and increased organ weight, particularly in the liver and lungs. Blood analysis revealed a concerning decrease in healthy blood cells and an increase in inflammatory markers, indicating an unhealthy state. However, we found that when these mice were treated with ATRA, their conditions improved remarkably.

The treated mice regained weight, saw improvements in their blood parameters, and exhibited lower levels of cancer-related inflammation. Notably, the expression of the COX-2 gene—an important player in inflammation and cancer—was dramatically reduced with ATRA treatment in both lung and liver tissues. This suggests that ATRA effectively counteracts the inflammatory effects and may help prevent the initial stages of cancer caused by B(a)P exposure.

Overall, our findings highlight the potential of vitamin A in mitigating some of the risks associated with lung cancer development due to environmental carcinogens, supporting further exploration of its role in cancer prevention.
We explored how vitamin A, specifically all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), could impact lung cancer by studying mice that were induced with lung cancer through benzo[a]pyrene. We gave some mice a traditional form of ATRA and others a novel cationic liposome formulation, lipo-ATRA, to see which one would perform better in reducing the expression of certain cancer-related genes.

The results showed that the cationic lipo-ATRA treatment significantly improved the availability of ATRA in lung tissues and effectively suppressed the expression levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B-Raf genes. These genes are known to play a crucial role in cancer development, so their suppression suggests a positive effect of ATRA, especially in its nanoformulation.

Our findings indicate that lipo-ATRA could be a promising strategy for managing lung cancer by targeting specific oncogenes. This research provides valuable insights into potential avenues for improving cancer treatments using vitamin A.
8
Vitamin A's therapeutic effects on SACC
We investigated how vitamin A, specifically in the form of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), impacts lung metastasis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). This study highlighted the significant role of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in potentially controlling cancer spread. Through advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified various cell types present in both primary tumors and lung metastases, helping us understand the aggressive nature of this cancer.

Our findings suggested that ATRA works by correcting abnormal cell differentiation caused by faulty Notch1 or MYB genes. Additionally, we discovered that a deficiency in the retinoic acid system might contribute to the increased likelihood of lung metastasis. By focusing on how ATRA affects these cancer cells, we highlighted the vitamin’s importance in both the diagnosis and treatment of SACC.

Overall, this research emphasizes that boosting our vitamin A system could play a crucial role in managing the challenges posed by lung cancer metastasis in adenoid cystic carcinoma. The study opens up avenues for further exploration into vitamin A as a therapeutic option for patients struggling with this type of cancer.

Most Useful Reviews

7.5
Effective for inflammation
6 people found this helpful
This medication aids inflammation of the bronchi and lungs, typically taken as one capsule daily during illness, particularly useful with Covid. Our family used it when unwell. If this review is helpful, please like it – it’s appreciated!
6
Sore lungs relief
2 people found this helpful
Excellent remedy for sore lungs and throat; corks started to come out during tonsillitis. You need to take it with vitamins D and E to avoid excess. I sometimes take D less frequently.
1
Not for smokers
1 people found this helpful
This product is excellent for non-smokers but is ineffective for those who smoke, as it could potentially lead to lung cancer.

Medical Researches

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 9 Researches
7.6
  • All Researches
9
Vitamin A mitigates lung cancer
We aimed to understand how all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a form of vitamin A, influences lung cancer development caused by benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) exposure in mice. The study involved a thorough examination of the overall health of the mice, including body and organ weights, blood tests, and tissue analysis for any signs of damage or inflammation.

In our observations, B(a)P significantly harmed the mice, leading to weight loss and increased organ weight, particularly in the liver and lungs. Blood analysis revealed a concerning decrease in healthy blood cells and an increase in inflammatory markers, indicating an unhealthy state. However, we found that when these mice were treated with ATRA, their conditions improved remarkably.

The treated mice regained weight, saw improvements in their blood parameters, and exhibited lower levels of cancer-related inflammation. Notably, the expression of the COX-2 gene—an important player in inflammation and cancer—was dramatically reduced with ATRA treatment in both lung and liver tissues. This suggests that ATRA effectively counteracts the inflammatory effects and may help prevent the initial stages of cancer caused by B(a)P exposure.

Overall, our findings highlight the potential of vitamin A in mitigating some of the risks associated with lung cancer development due to environmental carcinogens, supporting further exploration of its role in cancer prevention.
We explored the potential of acyclic retinoid (ACR), a derivative of vitamin A, in treating lung cancer, particularly focusing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cisplatin-resistant cells. This research is vital because NSCLC is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, and treatments like cisplatin often face challenges due to resistance.

In our study, we observed that ACR can significantly inhibit the EGFR/AKT signaling pathway, which is heavily involved in the progression of lung cancer. We treated human NSCLC A549 cells, as well as cisplatin-resistant A549 (A549CR) cells, with ACR alone and in combination with cisplatin. We assessed various factors including cell viability, apoptosis rates, and the levels of crucial signaling proteins.

The results revealed that ACR not only decreased cell viability but also enhanced the sensitivity of both NSCLC and resistant cells to cisplatin treatment. This suggests that ACR could play an important role in improving therapeutic outcomes for lung cancer patients, especially those who have developed resistance to current treatments.

Our findings indicate that incorporating ACR into treatment regimens may provide an innovative strategy for tackling lung cancer and managing cisplatin resistance, which is a significant hurdle in current cancer therapies.
We explored how vitamin A, specifically all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), could impact lung cancer by studying mice that were induced with lung cancer through benzo[a]pyrene. We gave some mice a traditional form of ATRA and others a novel cationic liposome formulation, lipo-ATRA, to see which one would perform better in reducing the expression of certain cancer-related genes.

The results showed that the cationic lipo-ATRA treatment significantly improved the availability of ATRA in lung tissues and effectively suppressed the expression levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B-Raf genes. These genes are known to play a crucial role in cancer development, so their suppression suggests a positive effect of ATRA, especially in its nanoformulation.

Our findings indicate that lipo-ATRA could be a promising strategy for managing lung cancer by targeting specific oncogenes. This research provides valuable insights into potential avenues for improving cancer treatments using vitamin A.
8
Vitamin A's Mixed Effects on Cancer
We explored the impact of retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, on lung cancer growth in our study. By administering all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) to mice, we found that while it reduced cancer growth in immune-competent mice, it did not have the same effect in those with compromised immune systems. This led us to consider the important role the tumor microenvironment plays in cancer treatment.

We observed that depleting CD8 T cells nullified the positive effects of ATRA, indicating the necessity of a healthy immune response in combatting lung cancer. Additionally, when we combined ATRA with immune checkpoint inhibitors—the drugs that block cancer's ability to evade the immune system—it did not enhance anti-tumor effects as hoped.

To find a solution, we turned to an RARγ agonist, known as IRX4647. When we paired IRX4647 with an anti-PD-L1 blockade, we saw significant tumor suppression, particularly in resisting cancer models. This combination treatment resulted in increased CD4 T cells in tumors, which suggests a shift in the immune landscape that could support fighting cancer.

Despite these promising results, it's worth noting that IRX4647 alone did not demonstrate strong effects on lung cancer growth in laboratory settings. Our findings underscore the complexity of cancer treatment and the need for clinical trials to evaluate RARγ agonists further in combination with existing therapies.
We examined how vitamin A, along with other antioxidants, may play a role in the treatment of lung cancer. Our review of various studies highlighted that vitamin A, as part of a broader antioxidant defense, has potential benefits, but its specific impact on lung cancer on its own remains less clear.

The studies we evaluated suggest that a combination of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc, work together to strengthen the body's defense mechanisms against damage. Moreover, we noted that vitamin A might enhance overall health when included in a supportive dietary plan, especially alongside treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Increased intake of protein and omega-3 fatty acids is also emphasized, as they can improve the quality of life and functional outcomes for lung cancer patients. Although vitamin A shows promise as part of a nutritional approach to lung cancer treatment, isolating its specific effects is challenging due to the simultaneous involvement of other nutrients.

User Reviews

USERS' SCORE
Moderately Good
Based on 4 Reviews
7.3
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
7.5
Effective for inflammation
6 people found this helpful
This medication aids inflammation of the bronchi and lungs, typically taken as one capsule daily during illness, particularly useful with Covid. Our family used it when unwell. If this review is helpful, please like it – it’s appreciated!
6
Sore lungs relief
2 people found this helpful
Excellent remedy for sore lungs and throat; corks started to come out during tonsillitis. You need to take it with vitamins D and E to avoid excess. I sometimes take D less frequently.
1
Not for smokers
1 people found this helpful
This product is excellent for non-smokers but is ineffective for those who smoke, as it could potentially lead to lung cancer.
0
Risk for smokers
1 people found this helpful
Smokers, former smokers, and asbestos workers should be cautious of isolated beta-carotene supplements due to evidence suggesting they may increase the risk of lung cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

7.5
Effective for inflammation
6 people found this helpful
This medication aids inflammation of the bronchi and lungs, typically taken as one capsule daily during illness, particularly useful with Covid. Our family used it when unwell. If this review is helpful, please like it – it’s appreciated!
6
Sore lungs relief
2 people found this helpful
Excellent remedy for sore lungs and throat; corks started to come out during tonsillitis. You need to take it with vitamins D and E to avoid excess. I sometimes take D less frequently.
1
Not for smokers
1 people found this helpful
This product is excellent for non-smokers but is ineffective for those who smoke, as it could potentially lead to lung cancer.
0
Risk for smokers
1 people found this helpful
Smokers, former smokers, and asbestos workers should be cautious of isolated beta-carotene supplements due to evidence suggesting they may increase the risk of lung cancer.
We explored the potential of acyclic retinoid (ACR), a derivative of vitamin A, in treating lung cancer, particularly focusing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cisplatin-resistant cells. This research is vital because NSCLC is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, and treatments like cisplatin often face challenges due to resistance.

In our study, we observed that ACR can significantly inhibit the EGFR/AKT signaling pathway, which is heavily involved in the progression of lung cancer. We treated human NSCLC A549 cells, as well as cisplatin-resistant A549 (A549CR) cells, with ACR alone and in combination with cisplatin. We assessed various factors including cell viability, apoptosis rates, and the levels of crucial signaling proteins.

The results revealed that ACR not only decreased cell viability but also enhanced the sensitivity of both NSCLC and resistant cells to cisplatin treatment. This suggests that ACR could play an important role in improving therapeutic outcomes for lung cancer patients, especially those who have developed resistance to current treatments.

Our findings indicate that incorporating ACR into treatment regimens may provide an innovative strategy for tackling lung cancer and managing cisplatin resistance, which is a significant hurdle in current cancer therapies.
8
Vitamin A delivery in lung cancer
We explored the effectiveness of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a form of vitamin A, as a treatment for lung cancer, focusing on how it can be delivered more effectively to tumors. ATRA is known to have poor bioavailability and faces challenges with drug resistance, so we utilized a specially designed nano-formulation called lipo-ATRA, which uses cationic lipids.

In our study, we created lipo-ATRA using DOTAP, cholesterol, and ATRA in specific ratios to improve its delivery to lung cancer cells. We found that this formulation was stable and released ATRA more effectively in acidic environments, such as those found in many tumors. A significant finding was that ATRA uptake was seven times higher in lung cancer cells treated with lipo-ATRA compared to those receiving free ATRA.

Furthermore, we observed that lipo-ATRA treatment resulted in a marked decrease in cell viability after 48 hours compared to the free ATRA treatment. Our results indicate that using this nano-formulated carrier not only enhances the release of ATRA at acidic pH levels but also improves its uptake by lung cancer cells, signifying a promising approach for targeted therapy.

In summary, the study demonstrates that the lipo-ATRA formulation with DOTAP is a suitable tool for delivering vitamin A effectively to lung cancer cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
4
Vitamin A shows no protective benefit
We looked into how vitamin A affects lung cancer risk, specifically within a diverse group of over 65,000 participants in the Southern Community Cohort Study. This large-scale research included 1,204 cases of lung cancer and focused on dietary habits involving carotenoids and vitamin A.

Interestingly, we found that individuals diagnosed with lung cancer reported lower intake of vitamin A and carotenoids compared to those without cancer. However, the overall results indicated no significant protective benefits of these nutrients against lung cancer risk.

In fact, we noted that current smokers showed a concerning positive association between dietary vitamin A intake and lung cancer risk. The data revealed that higher vitamin A consumption was linked to a 23% increase in risk for these individuals. Furthermore, African Americans consuming more vitamin A had an even greater risk for developing adenocarcinoma.

We also discovered that former smokers who consumed higher amounts of lycopene, another carotenoid, faced an increased lung cancer risk. Additionally, β-cryptoxanthin was positively associated with the risk of squamous carcinoma.

The findings suggest that more research is needed to explore these associations further, particularly considering the mixed outcomes surrounding vitamin A and lung cancer.
7
Retinoids show promise, limited scope
We conducted a thorough examination of how retinoids, which are derivatives of vitamin A, impact lung cancer treatment. In our analysis, we looked at data from 39 randomized controlled trials that included over 15,000 patients.

Our findings revealed that patients treated with retinoids showed a reduced rate of cancer recurrence and improved clinical responses compared to those who did not receive these treatments. However, it is important to note that when it came to overall survival rates, development of cancer, disease progression, and event-free survival, there were no significant improvements tied to retinoid treatment.

Specifically for lung cancer, the study indicated that patients experienced benefits from retinoids. Yet, these results also align with other types of cancers, like acute promyelocytic leukemia and renal cell carcinoma. In contrast, we did not find significant therapeutic effects for several other cancers, including head and neck cancer and melanoma.

Overall, while vitamin A plays a notable role in potentially preventing cancer recurrence and improving patients' responses to treatment, it does not enhance overall survival in lung cancer patients. Further research is encouraged to explore the effectiveness of retinoids in a broader range of cancers.

References

  1. Motoyama M, Shigefuku R, Tanaka N, Nishizawa M, Oshio K, et al. Acyclic Retinoid Inhibits the EGFR/AKT Signaling Pathway and Cancels Cisplatin-resistant Cell Characteristics. Anticancer Res. 2025;45:433. doi:10.21873/anticanres.17432
  2. Mariammal BGV, Wilson Devarajan D, Singaram V, Ravichandran R, Chandrasekharan G, et al. An Efficient Suppression of EGFR and B-Raf mRNA Overexpression in the Lung of Benzo[a]pyrene-induced mice by Cationic Lipo-ATRA Nanoformulation. Recent Pat Nanotechnol. 2025;19:131. doi:10.2174/0118722105246143231016105620
  3. Wei CH, Huang L, Kreh B, Liu X, Tyutyunyk-Massey L, et al. A novel retinoic acid receptor-γ agonist antagonizes immune checkpoint resistance in lung cancers by altering the tumor immune microenvironment. Sci Rep. 2023;13:14907. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-41690-5
  4. Polański J, Świątoniowska-Lonc N, Kołaczyńska S, Chabowski M. Diet as a Factor Supporting Lung Cancer Treatment-A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2023;15. doi:10.3390/nu15061477
  5. Zhou MJ, Yang JJ, Ma TY, Feng GX, Wang XL, et al. Increased retinoic acid signaling decreases lung metastasis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by inhibiting the noncanonical Notch1 pathway. Exp Mol Med. 2023;55:597. doi:10.1038/s12276-023-00957-7
  6. Chen S, Hu Q, Tao X, Xia J, Wu T, et al. Retinoids in cancer chemoprevention and therapy: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Genet. 2022;13:1065320. doi:10.3389/fgene.2022.1065320
  7. Sun Y, Wu J, Yoon HS, Buchowski MS, Cai H, et al. Associations of Dietary Intakes of Carotenoids and Vitamin A with Lung Cancer Risk in a Low-Income Population in the Southeastern United States. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14. doi:10.3390/cancers14205159
  8. Grace VMB, Wilson DD, Guruvayoorappan C, Danisha JP, Bonati L. Liposome nano-formulation with cationic polar lipid DOTAP and cholesterol as a suitable pH-responsive carrier for molecular therapeutic drug (all-trans retinoic acid) delivery to lung cancer cells. IET Nanobiotechnol. 2021;15:380. doi:10.1049/nbt2.12028
  9. Grace VMB, Wilson DD, Anushya R. Regulation of inflammation and COX-2 gene expression in benzo (a) pyrene induced lung carcinogenesis in mice by all trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Life Sci. 2021;285:119967. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119967
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