Protection against oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes and the many chronic, degenerative diseases it can cause, is achieved by various carotenoids, according to a study published in the January issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Jean Mayer Research Center at Tufts University, in conjunction with scientists from the Instituto Chimico Farmaceutico Tossicologice, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, and BASF, investigated the effects of dietary carotenoids in 37 healthy, nonsmoking postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70.
In the 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 concentrations and measured lymphocyte DNA damaged.
Following the supplementation period, each carotenoid group exhibited significantly reduced DNA damage, whereas the placebo group showed no improvement. Both mixed carotenoid and the beta-carotene groups further displayed significantly less oxidative DNA damage as early as 15 days into supplementation.
Scientists concluded that significant reductions in oxidative DNA damage can be achieved by supplementation with 12 mg per day of individual carotenoids or with 12 mg total of mixed carotenoids—4 mg each of lutein, beta-carotene and lycopene.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 83(1):163-169, 2006
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment