Vitamin D and oxidation-induced DNA damage: is there a connection?

Oxidation-induced damage to DNA can cause mutations, phenotypic changes and apoptosis. Agents that oppose such damage offer potential therapies for disease prevention. Vitamin D administration reportedly lowered DNA damage in type 2 diabetic mice, and higher DNA damage was reported in mononuclear cells of severely asthmatic patients who were vitamin D deficient. We hypothesised that lower vitamin D status associates with higher oxidation-induced DNA damage. Vitamin D deficiency (plasma 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) is highly prevalent worldwide, and association with DNA damage has high potential importance and impact in regard to the future health of vitamin D deficient young adults. In this study, oxidation-induced DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes of 121 young (18-26 years) adults was measured using the formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG)-assisted comet assay. Plasma 25(OH)D was measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Correlational analysis was performed between 25(OH)D and DNA damage. Differences in DNA damage across tertiles of 25(OH)D were explored using analysis of variance. DNA damage in those with 25(OH)D