BOSTON--Protection against oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes and the myriad chronic, degenerative diseases it can cause, is achieved by various carotenoids, according to a recent study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (83, 1:163-169, 2006). Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Jean Mayer Research Center at Tufts University, in conjunction with scientists from the Istituto Chimico Farmaceutico Tossicologico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, and BASF, investigated the effects of dietary carotenoids in 37 healthy, nonsmoking postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial, the women were randomly assigned to one of five distinct groups of women and given either 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 a total of 56 days. Researchers analyzed plasma carotenoid concentrations by using HPLC, and measured lymphocyte DNA damage by using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay.
Following the supplementation period, each carotenoid group exhibited significantly reduced DNA damage compared to baseline, whereas the placebo group showed no such improvement. The both mixed carotenoid and the beta-carotene groups further displayed significantly less oxidative DNA damage as early as 15 days into supplementation.
The scientists concluded significant reductions in oxidative DNA damage can be achieved by supplementation of 12 mg/d of individual carotenoid or by 12 mg total of mixed carotenoids--4 mg each of lutein, beta-carotene and lycopene, which can be achieved by the diet.
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