Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter
12:15

Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter

Published on: May 29, 2019

Antioxidant vitamins and cancer risk: is oxidative damage to DNA a relevant biomarker?

Steffen Loft1, Peter Møller, Marcus S Cooke

  • 1Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

European Journal of Nutrition
|June 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative DNA damage, measured by 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxodG), is linked to cancer risk. Antioxidant intake may reduce this damage, potentially lowering cancer risk, though more research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Oxidative DNA damage is a key factor in cancer development.
  • Damage arises from external chemicals (xenobiotics) and internal processes.
  • 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxodG) is a reliable biomarker for oxidative stress and potential cancer risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the role of oxidative DNA damage in carcinogenesis.
  • To assess the impact of antioxidant interventions on DNA damage markers.
  • To explore the relationship between antioxidant intake, DNA damage, and cancer risk.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of intervention studies on antioxidant consumption.
  • Measurement of oxidative DNA damage, specifically 8-oxodG levels.
  • Analysis of DNA damage in white blood cells and urinary 8-oxodG excretion.

Main Results:

  • Approximately one-third of intervention studies reported a protective effect of antioxidants.
  • Observed effects included reduced DNA damage in white blood cells and lower urinary 8-oxodG.
  • A potential link between antioxidant intake and reduced oxidative DNA damage was indicated.

Conclusions:

  • Oxidative damage to DNA, exemplified by 8-oxodG, is implicated in cancer.
  • Antioxidant consumption may offer a protective effect against DNA damage.
  • Further cohort studies are necessary to confirm the predictive value of 8-oxodG for cancer risk and the efficacy of antioxidants.

More Related Videos

Comet Assay as an Indirect Measure of Systemic Oxidative Stress08:23

Comet Assay as an Indirect Measure of Systemic Oxidative Stress

Published on: May 22, 2015

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling09:33

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling

Published on: March 20, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Mutations01:35

Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
Radical Autoxidation01:20

Radical Autoxidation

The oxidation of an organic compound in the presence of air or oxygen is called autoxidation. For example, cumene reacts with oxygen to form hydroperoxide. Autoxidation involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Many organic compounds are susceptible to autoxidation—especially ethers in the presence of oxygen, which form hydroperoxides. Even though this reaction is slow, old ether bottles contain small amounts of peroxide, which leads to laboratory explosions during ether...