[Do antioxidant vitamins influence carcinogenesis?].

Free radicals can affect the genetic material of cells, causing its gradual impairment and mutation. An accumulation of mutations in certain genes might lead to neoplasmic transformations of the cells and to cancer development. The deteriorative effects of free radicals are counteracted by the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E that quench free radical reactions. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidant vitamins. The following article attempts a short review of the current knowledge about the influence of vitamins A, C, and E on oxidative damage to DNA, the activity of some transcription factors, and the expressions of certain genes. The aim of this review is to answer the question whether a diet rich in vitamins can protect against cancer.