Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unraveling Vitamin A Transport Mechanisms — Linking Liver Receptors to Vision Health Through RBPR2 and RBP4 Interactions
08:18

Author Spotlight: Unraveling Vitamin A Transport Mechanisms — Linking Liver Receptors to Vision Health Through RBPR2 and RBP4 Interactions

Published on: October 4, 2024

1.6K

The neurotoxic effects of vitamin A and retinoids

Marcos Roberto de Oliveira1

  • 1Departamento de Química, ICET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, BR.

Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciencias
|August 7, 2015
PubMed

Insights

High doses of vitamin A (retinol) and retinoids can cause neurotoxicity. This review explores recent molecular findings on how these compounds harm the nervous system, despite their therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Vitamin A (retinol) and retinoids are crucial for cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, and tissue homeostasis.
  • These compounds have therapeutic applications in dermatology, immunodeficiency, and cancer treatment.
  • Excessive vitamin A intake can lead to adverse effects like bioenergetic dysfunction and altered cellular signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent molecular findings on vitamin A-related neurotoxicity.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effects of vitamin A and retinoids.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent data on vitamin A neurotoxicity.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms involved in retinoid neurotoxicity.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin A and retinoids can induce neurotoxicity at high doses.
  • Mechanisms of neurotoxicity are not fully understood but involve cellular dysfunction.
  • Potential effects include altered cell signaling, bioenergetic impairment, and oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin A and retinoids, while beneficial, pose a risk of neurotoxicity at excessive levels.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the precise molecular pathways of vitamin A-induced neurotoxicity.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for safe therapeutic application and managing potential side effects.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating Physiological Functions of Vitamin A Transporters Using HPLC-Based Vitamin A Profiling05:03

Author Spotlight: Investigating Physiological Functions of Vitamin A Transporters Using HPLC-Based Vitamin A Profiling

Published on: December 27, 2024

1.8K
Examination of Anatomical Features of Retinal Ganglion Cells Under N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid (NMDA)-induced Excitotoxicity07:11

Examination of Anatomical Features of Retinal Ganglion Cells Under N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid (NMDA)-induced Excitotoxicity

Published on: September 19, 2025

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
3.0K
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
997
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
3.9K
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
174
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions01:30

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial...
149
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
210