Role of antioxidant vitamins in mitigating the health risks from environmental toxicant exposures: a narrative review

Humans are chronically exposed to numerous environmental pollutants, many of which became widespread due to rapid industrialization and modernization over the past century. These pollutants, including persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and fine particulate matter, can function as endocrine disruptors and disrupt hormonal signaling and other cellular mechanisms, resulting in a wide spectrum of adverse health effects and contributing to the rising burden of chronic diseases. Despite mounting evidence of their public health effect, there are currently no widely implemented intervention strategies to mitigate these effects. Given the ubiquity of these pollutants and strong epidemiological and mechanistic evidence linking them to oxidative stress and reduced physiological levels of antioxidant vitamins (AVs), the use of AVs as a protective intervention is a promising and practical opportunity. AVs are generally safe, widely available, cost-effective, and easily integrated into dietary habits, further enhancing their appeal as potential preventive measures. This review critically examines the current literature on the modifying effects of vitamins, particularly their effect on the health risks associated with various classes of environmental pollutants. We also discuss methodological challenges in interpreting findings within the complex framework of human exposure, assessment of vitamin levels, and interindividual variability. Finally, we propose future research directions that could help realize the potential of vitamins as an accessible intervention to counteract the adverse health effects of widespread environmental pollution.