title: Modification of lymphocyte DNA damage by carotenoid supplementation in postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases related to aging such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Carotenoids could be a part of a protective strategy to minimize oxidative damage in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to determine the protective effect of carotenoids against DNA damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted. Thirty-seven healthy, nonsmoking postmenopausal women aged 50-70 y were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups and were instructed to consume a daily dose of mixed carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene; 4 mg each), 12 mg of a single carotenoid (beta-carotene, lutein, or lycopene), or placebo for 56 d. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were analyzed by using HPLC, and lymphocyte DNA damage was measured by using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At day 57, all carotenoid-supplemented groups showed significantly lower endogenous DNA damage than at baseline (P < 0.01), whereas the placebo group did not show any significant change. Significantly less (P < 0.05) endogenous DNA damage was found as early as day 15 in the mixed carotenoid (P < 0.01) and beta-carotene (P < 0.05) groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that carotenoid supplementation decreases DNA damage and that a combination of carotenoids (4 mg each of lutein, beta-carotene, and lycopene), an intake that can be achieved by diet, or a larger dose (12 mg) of individual carotenoids exerts protection against DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Xianfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aldini
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Herb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Musaeus
authors.forename: Norman I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Krinsky
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Kyung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yeum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017698:Postmenopause
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids