Vitamin C intake influences the bleomycin-induced chromosome damage assay: implications for detection of cancer susceptibility and chromosome breakage syndromes.
Supplementation with 1 g of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) per day decreased the amount of chromosome damage induced in lymphocytes by an exposure to bleomycin during the last 5 h of cell culture. We did not see such changes in lymphocytes from control individuals samples at the same time but not taking vitamin C supplements. This bleomycin assay has been proposed as a test for cancer susceptibility. A similar assay for genetic instability may be useful in detecting heterozygotes for chromosome-breakage syndromes (for example, Fanconi anemia or ataxia telangiectasia). Even though our sample size is small and our results should be interpreted cautiously, statistically significant effects were found with vitamin C supplementation. It would, therefore, be prudent to consider dietary and perhaps other lifestyle factors when interpreting of results from this bleomycin assay and related assays for genetic instability.
Pohl
H
H
Genetics Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Reidy
J A
JA
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002873:Chromosome Fragility; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*
D001761:Bleomycin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid