Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A
For the health condition: Leukemia

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Synopsis

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

Vitamin A, specifically in the form of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), has a well-established role in the treatment of a particular subtype of leukemia known as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which is a form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The scientific rationale for this therapy is robust and well documented in medical literature. APL is characterized by a specific genetic translocation (t(15;17)) that results in the PML-RARα fusion protein, which blocks the differentiation of promyelocytes into mature blood cells. ATRA, a derivative of vitamin A, binds to the altered retinoic acid receptor and reverses this differentiation block, allowing the immature leukemic cells to mature and die in a controlled fashion. This mechanism was first demonstrated in the late 1980s and revolutionized the treatment of APL, leading to high remission rates and significantly improved survival. Numerous clinical trials and long-term studies have validated the use of ATRA as a standard of care, often in combination with arsenic trioxide or chemotherapy. The use of vitamin A or its derivatives for other types of leukemia does not have the same level of scientific justification, and ATRA is not a general leukemia treatment. In summary, vitamin A (as ATRA) is scientifically validated for APL and is a life-saving component of therapy for this specific leukemia subtype.

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