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Vitamin B12 and Its Role Against Cancer: A Narrative Review
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Mir Amir Hossein Seyed Nazari   , Amir Mohammad Dorosti , Masumeh Akbarbegloo |
| Khoy University of Medical Sciences |
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Abstract: (33 Views) |
Introduction: Cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in the world and the role of nutritional factors in its occurrence is well known. Vitamin B12, as one of the essential vitamins for cellular metabolism, can have potential effects in cancer prevention. This review study aimed to investigate the role of vitamin B12 in cancer and related mechanisms.
Methods: This narrative review study was conducted by searching articles in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Elsevier, Science Direct, Magiran, SID, IranMedex, and Irandoc databases. Articles published between 2010 and 2024 were extracted using the keywords Vitamin B12, Cancer, Carcinogen Carcinoma, Cancer prevention, and their Persian equivalents. From a total of 783 retrieved articles, after removing duplicate articles and screening abstracts, 13 final articles were selected for evaluation with the PRISMA checklist.
Results: In this study, the effects of vitamin B12 on colorectal, cervical, upper gastrointestinal, and liver cancers were specifically investigated. Studies have shown that vitamin B12 can be effective in reducing the risk of cancers such as colorectal, cervical, and upper gastrointestinal cancers by improving DNA repair, regulating DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes, and reducing chronic inflammation. On the other hand, excessive consumption of vitamin B12, especially through supplements, has been associated with an increased risk of some cancers, including liver and colorectal cancer. Consumption of natural food sources of vitamin B12 has shown more protective effects than supplements in cancer prevention.
Conclusion: Vitamin B12 plays an important role in cancer prevention, but this effect may vary depending on the level and type of intake. Given the complexity of vitamin B12's effects on cancer, further research is needed to better understand its precise mechanisms and effects in different populations.
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| Keywords: Vitamin B12, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Vitamin Supplements, Narrative Review. |
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Full-Text [PDF 358 kb]
(16 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/01/18 | Accepted: 2025/09/13 | Published: 2024/04/29
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