An overview of vitamins as epidrugs for colorectal cancer prevention.

This article focuses on the role of vitamins as epigenetic modifiers in colorectal cancer (CRC), examining how dietary vitamins may influence CRC risk and treatment through alterations in DNA methylation and other epigenomic mechanisms. It reviews epidemiological, in vitro, and in vivo studies on vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K, highlighting their potential to modulate gene expression relevant to CRC via epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. While vitamins A and D show evidence of modulating chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation with implications for CRC prevention and therapy, vitamins C and E are noted for their roles in DNA demethylation and methyltransferase regulation, respectively. The article underscores the need for well-designed clinical studies to clarify the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of vitamins as "epidrugs" in CRC management, emphasizing personalized nutrition and combined treatment strategies.