Higher vitamin A, E intake prevents metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Increased serum levels or intakes of vitamin A and E appear to contribute to less aggressive tumours in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), reveals a study.

“Experimental and clinical studies have shown that vitamins A and E can inhibit cancer formation and progression,” the investigators said. “The unfavourable status of these vitamins can represent risk factors for the disease.”

This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2017 to 2018 to examine the relationship between the nutritional status of vitamins A and E (serum levels and dietary intake) and histopathological outcomes in PTC patients.

A team of investigators quantified retinol (ROH) and α-tocopherol (TOH) serum levels and vitamins dietary intake of 46 PTC patients. They measured serum vitamins using a high-efficiency liquid chromatography and analysed vitamins dietary intake using 24-hour dietary recalls.

Patients with lower ROH serum levels had a higher likelihood of presenting with lymph node metastasis or angiolymphatic invasion (p=0.025). Higher intakes of vitamin A and E were also associated with the absence of extrathyroidal extension (p=0.013) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.007), respectively.

“Our findings suggest that a ROH serum level greater than 2.65 μmol/L in PTC patients may be a protective factor against the presence of lymph node metastasis and angiolymphatic invasion,” the investigators said. “In addition, vitamin A and E intake may protect against extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis.”