Modification of lymphocyte DNA damage by carotenoid supplementation in postmenopausal women.
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.
Zhao
Xianfeng
X
Jean Mayer USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Aldini
Giancarlo
G
Johnson
Elizabeth J
EJ
Rasmussen
Helen
H
Kraemer
Klaus
K
Woolf
Herb
H
Musaeus
Nina
N
Krinsky
Norman I
NI
Russell
Robert M
RM
Yeum
Kyung-Jin
KJ
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
D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids