title: Vitamin C intervention may lower the levels of persistent organic pollutants in blood of healthy women - A pilot study.
abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has a long term impact on human health. The goal of this pilot study was to test whether antioxidant intervention by vitamin C supplementation may be a remedial approach to decrease body burden of POPs in humans. Using solid phase extraction coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer and a gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry, we measured 18 PCBs, 7 OCPs, and 5 PBDEs in the blood of 15 healthy California women (8 were obese/overweight and 7 had normal weight) before and after 2 months of vitamin C supplementation (1000 mg/day). We observed higher PBDE levels than PCBs and OCPs, but only PCB and OCP levels were strongly and positively correlated with participant's BMI and age. We also found statistically significant decreases in 6 PCBs (PCB-74, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, and PCB-187), and 2 OCPs (4,4'-DDE, and 4,4'-DDT), but not PBDEs after vitamin C supplementation. Pending confirmation of this pilot finding in a larger study of both sexes, vitamin C intervention may have important public health implications in protecting health by reducing body burdens of POPs.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, 700 Heinz Ave, S. 100, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA. Electronic address: weihong.guo@dtsc.ca.gov.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huen
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, 700 Heinz Ave, S. 100, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA.
authors.forename: June-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, 700 Heinz Ave, S. 100, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA.
authors.forename: Myrto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petreas
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, 700 Heinz Ave, S. 100, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA; Sequoia Foundation, 2166 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crispo Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Block
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002140:California; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000097:blood*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010575:Pesticides; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Intervention; OCPs; PBDEs; PCBs; Persistent organic pollutants; Vitamin C