Both base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair in humans are influenced by nutritional factors.
Lack of reliable assays for DNA repair has largely prevented measurements of DNA repair from being included in human biomonitoring studies. Using newly developed modifications of the comet assay we tested whether a fruit- and antioxidant-rich plant-based intervention could affect base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) in a group of 102 male volunteers. BER and NER repair capacities were measured in lymphocytes before and after a dietary intervention lasting 8 weeks. The study had one control group, one group consuming three kiwifruits per day and one group consuming a variety of antioxidant-rich fruits and plant products in addition to their normal diet. DNA strand breaks were reduced following consumption of both kiwifruits (13%, p = 0.05) and antioxidant-rich plant products (20%, p = 0.02). Increased BER (55%, p = 0.01) and reduced NER (-39%, p < 0.01) were observed in the group consuming a wide variety of plant products. Reduced NER was also observed in the kiwifruit group (-38%, p = 0.05), but BER was not affected in this group. Here we have demonstrated that DNA repair is affected by diet and that modified versions of the comet assay can be used to assess activity of different DNA repair pathways in human biomonitoring studies.
Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. asgeir.brevik@fhi.no
Asgeir
A
Brevik
Anette
A
Karlsen
Amaya
A
Azqueta
Anna Estaban
AE
Tirado
Rune
R
Blomhoff
Andrew
A
Collins
D029042:Actinidia / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000975:Antioxidants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide