title: Vitamin A: a missing link in diabetes?
abstract: Vitamin A has a critical role in embryonic development, immunity and the visual cycle. In recent years, evidence has demonstrated that vitamin A can also regulate metabolic pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. This has increased interest in the possible antiobesity and antidiabetic properties of natural and synthetic vitamin A derivatives. However, whether vitamin A deficiency or aberrations in vitamin A metabolism contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes is not known. This perspective article will review what is currently known and new data regarding the link between vitamin A and the clinical manifestations of common and atypical forms of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Trasino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gudas
keywords: diabetes; dietary nutrient; glucose metabolism; insulin; islets; pancreas; retinoic acid; retinol; vitamin A; β cells