AUTHOR=Zhou Yunting , Wang Huiying , Zhou Junming , Qiu Shanhu , Cai Tingting , Li Huiqin , Shen Ziyang , Hu Yun , Ding Bo , Luo Menghui , Huang Rong , Yan Rengna , Xu Wei , He Cong , Zhang Yumin , Li Fengfei , Sun Zilin , Ma Jianhua TITLE=Vitamin A and Its Multi-Effects on Pancreas: Recent Advances and Prospects JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.620941 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2021.620941 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=

Vitamin A (VA), which is stored in several forms in most tissues, is required to maintain metabolite homeostasis and other processes, including the visual cycle, energy balance, epithelial cell integrity, and infection resistance. In recent years, VA molecules, also known as retinoids, have been extensively explored and used in the treatment of skin disorders and immune-related tumors. To date, several observational and interventional studies have explored the relationship between VA status and the pathogenesis of diabetes. In particular, VA micronutrients have been shown to regulate pancreatic development, β-cell function, pancreatic innate immune responses, and pancreatic stellate cells phenotypes through multiple mechanisms. However, there are still many problems to be proven or resolved. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent and available evidence on VA biological metabolism in the pancreas. Analysis of the effects of VA on metabolism in the pancreas will contribute to our understanding of the supportive physiological roles of VA in pancreas protection.