Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Aug 16, 2021; 9(23): 6591-6607
Published online Aug 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i23.6591
Beta-carotene and its protective effect on gastric cancer
Qian-Hui Chen, Bao-Kang Wu, Dan Pan, Li-Xuan Sang, Bing Chang
Qian-Hui Chen, Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Bao-Kang Wu, Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Dan Pan, Li-Xuan Sang, Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Bing Chang, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Chen QH and Sang LX designed the structure of the manuscript; Chen QH, Wu BK, Pan D, Chang B and Sang LX drafted the manuscript; Chen QH, Wu BK and Sang LX reviewed the literature; Pan D, Chang B and Sang LX critically revised the manuscript.
Supported by Innovative Talents Support Program of Institution of Higher Learning of Liaoning Province, No. 2018-478; and Science and Technology Support Program of Shenyang, No. 20-205-4-094.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We declare no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Bing Chang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. cb000216@163.com
Received: January 12, 2021
Peer-review started: January 12, 2021
First decision: May 13, 2021
Revised: May 16, 2021
Accepted: June 22, 2021
Article in press: June 22, 2021
Published online: August 16, 2021
Processing time: 205 Days and 8.1 Hours
Abstract

Beta-carotene is an important natural pigment that is very beneficial to human health. It is widely found in vegetables and fruits. The three main functions are antioxidant effects, cell gap junction-related functions and immune-related functions. Because of its diverse functions, beta-carotene is believed to prevent and treat many chronic diseases. Gastric cancer is one of the most important diseases it can treat. Gastric cancer is a type of cancer with a high incidence. Its etiology varies, and the pathogenesis is complex. Gastric cancer seriously affects human health. The role of beta-carotene, a natural nutrient, in gastric cancer has been explored by many researchers, including molecular mechanisms and epidemiological studies. Molecular studies have mainly focused on oxidative stress, cell cycle, signal transduction pathways and immune-related mechanisms of beta-carotene in gastric cancer. Many epidemiological surveys and cohort studies of patients with gastric cancer have been conducted, and the results of these epidemiological studies vary due to the use of different research methods and analysis of different regions. This paper will summarize the results of these studies, mainly in terms of molecular mechanisms and epidemiological research results, which will provide a systematic basis for future studies of the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer. This paper will help researchers identify new research directions.

Keywords: Beta-carotene; Gastric cancer; Nutrient; Tumor; Stomach; Epidemiology

Core Tip: Beta-carotene is believed to prevent and treat many chronic diseases. Gastric cancer is one of the most important diseases it can treat. A few studies in the literature database describe the pathophysiology, therapy and clinical trials for gastric cancer and beta-carotene. However, this review summarizes the latest studies on the specific effect of beta-carotene on gastric cancer. It includes molecular mechanisms and clinical trials.