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Research: MOONEY and co-authors,
Listed in Issue 123
Abstract
MOONEY and co-authors, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, have shown that antioxidant vitamin supplements reduce the damage that tobacco smoke does to the DNA of woman smokers.
Background
Elevated benzopyrene-DNA adducts have been associated with a 3-fold increased risk of lung cancer in current smokers. The aim of this study was to assess the chemopreventive effects of antioxidant vitamin supplementation.
Methodology
In this randomized controlled double-blind study, smokers were randomized to receive either 500 mg vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin A daily or placebo for 15 months. The levels of benzopyrene-DNA adducts in blood was the primary outcome measure.
Results
Overall and among men, there was no effect of treatment on benzopyrene-DNA adduct levels. Among women, benzopyrene-DNA adducts decreased by 31% compared with women on placebo (P = 0.03).
Conclusion
These results suggest that antioxidant supplementation may mitigate some of the damage done by smoking, at least in women. The best way of reducing the damage remains however to stop smoking.
References
Mooney LA, Madsen AM, Tang D, Orjuela MA, Tsai WY, Garduno ER, Perera FP. Antioxidant vitamin supplementation reduces benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adducts and potential cancer risk in female smokers. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 14 (1): 237-242, Jan 2005.
Comment
Comment: That a dosage as small as 500 mg Vitamin C could product such a protective effect is quite surprising. I would like to see this research replicated with dosages of between 1-3 gm daily.
