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DNA damage and repair: fruit and vegetable effects in a feeding trial

Jyh-Lurn Chang1, Gang Chen, Cornelia M Ulrich

  • 1University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Nutrition and Cancer
|April 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Consuming 10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily did not impact DNA damage or repair in lymphocytes. However, the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism showed an association with DNA damage resistance and repair capacity.

Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epidemiologic studies suggest fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption may reduce cancer risk.
  • Proposed mechanisms include antioxidant properties and modulation of enzyme activities, potentially reducing DNA damage and mutation rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of high F&V intake on endogenous DNA damage, DNA resistance to gamma-irradiation, and DNA repair capacity in lymphocytes.
  • To explore associations between the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism, serum bilirubin, and DNA damage/repair measures.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, controlled, crossover feeding trial involving 28 healthy adults (11 men, 17 women).
  • Participants consumed 10 servings/day of F&V for 2 weeks.
  • DNA damage and repair were assessed in lymphocytes using the Comet assay.

Main Results:

  • Overall, F&V consumption did not significantly alter DNA damage or repair measures in lymphocytes.
  • The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism was inversely associated with sensitivity to gamma-irradiation and DNA repair capacity.
  • A clear biological mechanism for the UGT1A1*28 association remains unclear.

Conclusions:

  • High daily intake of F&V (10 servings) for two weeks did not demonstrate a significant effect on DNA damage or repair in healthy adults.
  • The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism warrants further investigation regarding its role in DNA damage response.
  • Additional dietary intervention studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between F&V intake and DNA integrity.

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