Prevention and Treatment of Various Diseases by Vitamin A and β-carotene

Abstract

Vitamin A was discovered approximately 200 years ago, and it is accepted as an important nutrient that plays a variety of roles in the human body. Retinoic acid is an active form of vitamin A, which functions as a differentiation-inducing agent (anti-cancer agent) in patients with promyelocytic leukemia. It is also highly likely that retinoic acid may be used to treat other cancers and illnesses. Recently, it was found that other retinoids besides retinoic acid have anti-cancer activities. In this paper, we present findings regarding a new supply of vitamin A and its action in the body, including 1) The action of β-carotene with red palm oil as its source; 2) The immunostimulatory action of retinoic acid in intestines; 3) New technologies related to vitamin A [visualization of retinoic acid; methods for examining decomposition of retinoic acid-binding protein, new methods for determination of retinoic acid by LC/MS/MS] and 4) New materials related to vitamin A [antioxidant and anti-cancer actions of new compounds developed from retinoic acid derivatives (non-genomic actions)]. We plan to examine methods of utilizing complementary food sources of vitamin A, and to apply this to preventive and curative medicine. This research contributes to improving the quality of life of both healthy persons and patients.