Posted on 03/19/2023 9:10:20 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Consuming a diet rich in vitamin A or its analogs may help prevent children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) reduce their risk of developing painful pancreas inflammation during chemotherapy treatment.
For people with ALL, treatment with the enzyme asparaginase helps starve cancer cells by reducing the amount of asparagine circulating in the blood, which the cancer cells need but cannot make themselves. The medication, often used in combination with other chemotherapies, is given via injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin.
However, an estimated 2% to 10% of asparaginase users develop inflammation of the pancreas in reaction to asparaginase treatment. For a third of these people, the symptoms can be severe.
Jegga and colleagues developed predictive analytics using over 100 million data points encompassing gene expression data, small-molecule data, and electronic health records to understand more of the mechanisms driving asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) and identify potential interventions to prevent or mitigate AAP.
First, they analyzed massive amounts of gene expression data to reveal that gene activity associated with asparaginase or pancreatitis might be reversed by retinoids (vitamin A and its analogs). The team found more supporting evidence by "mining" millions of of electronic health records from the TriNetX database and the U.S. Federal Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System.
Ultimately, the team established two sets of human "real-world" experiences. They found that only 1.4% of patients treated with asparaginase developed pancreatitis when they were also taking vitamin A in contrast to 3.4% of patients who did not. Concomitant use of vitamin A correlated with a 60% reduction in the risk of AAP. Lower amounts of dietary vitamin A correlated with increased risk and severity of AAP.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
So a normal lutein/zeaxanthin gelcap and some extra Vitamin A as beta carotene would seem to be enough. You could eat half an ounce of goji berries and get quite a bit more zeaxanthin, though.
Excellent source of vit A is mangoes.
Interesting! I suffer chronic pancreatitis.
Excess retinol is common and causes bone problems.
In many diseases, retinol and carotene have opposite effects.
Symptoms of acute vitamin A toxicity include:
drowsiness
irritability
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
increased pressure on the brain
Symptoms of chronic vitamin A toxicity include:
blurry vision or other vision changes
swelling of the bones
bone pain
poor appetite
dizziness
nausea and vomiting
sensitivity to sunlight
dry, rough skin
itchy or peeling skin
cracked fingernails
skin cracks at the corners of your mouth
mouth ulcers
yellowed skin (jaundice)
hair loss
respiratory infection
confusion
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypervitaminosis-a
Studies that have reviewed the association between vitamin A and depression have suggested that retinoic acid, an active form of vitamin A, can cause depression and suicide
Relationship between Vitamin Intake and Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Japanese Individuals: Differences with Gender and Body Mass Index
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/12/1319
So a normal lutein/zeaxanthin gelcap and some extra Vitamin A as beta carotene would seem to be enough.
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This study found that long-term use of beta-carotene, lutein or retinol supplements may increase lung cancer risk.
https://www.cancercarewny.com/content.aspx?chunkiid=21803
It is “largely impossible” for provitamin carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, to cause toxicity, as their conversion to retinol is highly regulated.[19] No vitamin A toxicity has ever been reported from ingestion of excessive amounts.[22] Overconsumption of beta-carotene can only cause carotenosis, a harmless and reversible cosmetic condition in which the skin turns orange.
This study is talking about the forms of Vitamin A that can’t cause any problem with “excess.”
And other researchers said and showed that association, was stupid:
https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/170/3/401/105758
Just don’t smoke, which is what Yul Brenner told us, too.
It is “largely impossible” for provitamin carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, to cause toxicity, as their conversion to retinol is highly regulated.
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Studies have shown there is a convincing association between β-carotene supplements and an increased risk of lung cancer in current smokers
https://wiki.cancer.org.au/policy/Position_statement_-_Beta-carotene_and_cancer_risk
Some studies have suggested that beta-carotene supplementation may increase the risk of lung cancer, particularly among smokers or former smokers.
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.23527
This study is talking about the forms of Vitamin A that can’t cause any problem with “excess.”
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People who read the title and the excerpt might go to a pharmacy and ask for a vitamin a supplement, and get retinol.
And other researchers said and showed that association, was stupid:
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Another interesting study:
we found that lutein intake was associated with lower lung function as measured by FEV1/FVC% in smokers
Association between lutein intake and lung function in adults: the Rotterdam Study
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/association-between-lutein-intake-and-lung-function-in-adults-the-rotterdam-study/65182F3B24451A86223638A4A0D3A33E
This study is talking about the forms of Vitamin A that can’t cause any problem with “excess.”
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I read the entire article at medicalxpress.com and didn’t find any mention of forms of vitamin a.
It also specifically stated the items I put into the first comment of analogues “lutein, meso-zeaxanthin, and zeaxanthin” as greatly reduced, along with the reference for food-based amounts of Vitamin A, of which nearly all food forms have Vitamin A in beta-carotene form, except for organ meats. Milk products have it from supplementation, as do breakfast cereals, and that form is the active form (not beta-carotene).
Hope that helps.
This study is talking about the forms of Vitamin A that can’t cause any problem with “excess.”
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From the results section of the article:
Plasma retinol at the end of induction correlated with dietary intake of retinol and RAE during the induction period. Overall, these results suggest that lower vitamin A intake during the induction period could predispose children and adolescents with ALL to pancreatitis.
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