Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin A and its derivatives (retinoids) have been investigated for their potential roles in supporting cancer treatment, particularly in reducing side effects such as mucositis (inflammation of the mucous membranes), xerophthalmia (dry eyes), and skin-related toxicities associated with chemotherapy and radiation. Scientific evidence suggests that vitamin A is essential for maintaining epithelial integrity and immune function, which can be compromised during cancer treatment. Some clinical trials have explored topical and systemic vitamin A supplementation to reduce severity and incidence of oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemotherapy or head-and-neck radiotherapy, with mixed results—some studies report modest benefit, while others find limited or no effect. Vitamin A analogs (like all-trans retinoic acid) are established therapies for specific cancers such as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but this use is distinct from general side-effect management. The evidence supporting vitamin A supplementation specifically for reducing cancer therapy side effects is limited and not robustly conclusive. There are concerns about hypervitaminosis A and potential interactions with cancer treatments. Current guidelines do not universally recommend routine vitamin A supplementation for patients undergoing cancer therapy unless a deficiency is documented. In summary, while there is some scientific investigation and rationale, the evidence base is weak (rated 2/5), and supplementation should be considered cautiously and on an individual basis, ideally under medical supervision.

More about vitamin A
More about Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)

Other ingredients used for Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)

Other health conditions supported by vitamin A

Products containing vitamin A

Designs For Health Acnutrol™ capsules
Vitabase Active Man's Formula
Vitabase Active Woman's Multi
Designs For Health ADK-Evail™
Metagenics AdvaClear
Metagenics AdvaClear
Thorne Advanced Nutrients Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations AntiOxidant Formula
Metagenics Axis Endo™ Mango
Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day Multivitamin
Thorne Basic Prenatal Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations Beta Carotene with Carotenoids
Metagenics BioPure Protein® Powder
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change Daily Essentials
Integrative Therapeutics Clinical Nutrients HP
Douglas Laboratories Co-Enzyme Q10 Softgel
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™ with Copper
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™ with Copper & Iron
Integrative Therapeutics EHB
Pure Encapsulations Energize Plus™ Pure Pack
Metagenics EstroFactors®
Metagenics Fem Prenatal®
Metagenics GI Sustain™ Powder
Douglas Laboratories Hair, Skin and Nails Plus
Vitabase Hair, Skin & Nails Formula
Designs For Health Hi-Po Emulsi-A™
Integrative Therapeutics K-PAX MitoNutrients
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Chocolate
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Vanilla
Klean Athlete Klean Multivitamin ™
Vitabase Life's Essentials Plus
Douglas Laboratories Liquid Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations LiquiNutrients
Designs For Health LV-GB Complex™
Pure Encapsulations Macular Support Formula
Pure Encapsulations Macular Support Formula
Thorne MediClear Plus
Thorne Men's Multi 50+
Designs For Health Metabolic Synergy™
Designs For Health Metabolic Synergy™
Metagenics MetaKids Multi Soft Chew Grape
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations Multi t/d
Pure Encapsulations Multi t/d
Metagenics Multigenics®
Metagenics Multigenics Chewable Orange
Metagenics Multigenics Intensive Care
Metagenics Multigenics Intensive Care without Iron
Metagenics Multigenics without Iron
Integrative Therapeutics Multiplex-1 No-Iron
Pure Encapsulations NeuroMood Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® A without Copper & Iron
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® with NAC
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® with Vitamin K
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Copper, Iron & Iodine
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Iron
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Iron
Integrative Therapeutics Nutrivitamin No-Iron
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Designs For Health OcuForce™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™ Detox Program
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™Chocolate Detox Kit
Designs For Health PaleoMeal®
Designs For Health PaleoMeal®
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Dextrose Free
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Kit
Metagenics PhytoMulti™ Multivitamin
Metagenics PhytoMulti With Iron
Metagenics PhytoMulti Without Iron
Metagenics PhytoMultivitamin
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse Plus™ 570g
Metagenics PlusOne® Daily Prenatal Packs
Pure Encapsulations Polyphenol Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations Polyphenol Nutrients
Douglas Laboratories Prenatal
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Designs For Health Prenatal Pro™
Designs For Health Primal Multi™
Integrative Therapeutics ProThrivers Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureGenomics® Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureGenomics® UltraMultivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureLean® Protein
Pure Encapsulations PurePals
Pure Encapsulations PurePals with Iron
Pure Encapsulations PureResponse™ Multivitamin
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Integrative Therapeutics Testosterone Formula
Pure Encapsulations Thyroid Support Complex
Designs For Health Thyroid Synergy™
Metagenics Thyrosol
Designs For Health Twice Daily Essential Packets
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Designs For Health Ultimate Antiox Full Spectrum
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control® Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® 2 Daily
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive 50+ -EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ®-EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories ULTRA PREVENTIVE® III W/COPPER
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Grape Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Orange Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive One Daily
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive® X
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Protein Green
Pure Encapsulations Ultra Pure Pack
Metagenics UltraClear Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus® Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Chai
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations UltraDetox 10-Day Pure Pack
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish® Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360°® Chocolate/Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Original Spice
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein® Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein French Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein Plain
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360°® Pea/Rice Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360° Pea/Rice Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal® Daily Support Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Daily Support Mixed Berry
Metagenics UltraMeal Rice Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Douglas Laboratories Uro-Pro ®
Vitabase Vision Support
Pure Encapsulations VisionPro Nutrients
Douglas Laboratories Vitamin A
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin A 3,000 mcg 10,000 IU
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin A + Carotenoids
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Active Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials® Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Healthy Balance Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Men's Vitality Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Prime Daily Packs
Thorne Women's Multi 50+
Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients
Designs For Health Women's Twice Daily Essential Packets