Naslov
Is the future of human diet green: a genome damage study

Autori
Gerić, Marko ; Gajski, Goran ; Garaj-Vrhovac, Vera

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Preventing Age-Related Diseases with Redox-Active Compounds: a taste of controversy? / - , 2017, 58-58

Skup
The NutRedOx COST Action CA16112 & the 6tg NutriOx Atelier 2017: Preventing Age-Related Diseases with Redox-Active Compounds: a taste of controversy?

Mjesto i datum
Strasbourg, Francuska, 27.09.2017. - 29.09.2017

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Vegetarian diet ; Micronucleus test ; Comet assay
(vegetarian diet ; micronucleus test ; comet assay)

Sažetak
People usually turn to vegetarian diet due to ethical issues toward animals or due to improving their health. Avoidance of animal originated food and high intake of vitamin-, antioxidant-, and micronutrient-rich food is believed to improve human health status and to promote longevity. However, the beneficial properties of vegetarian and vegan nutrition are still a matter of debate, without clear scientific consensus. Therefore we conducted a pilot study on 40 volunteers (20 per group) to screen baseline DNA damage between vegetarian and omnivorous group. Our study groups were matched by age (32.05±7.33 vs 32.21±8.02 years), gender (20 male:20 female each group), and active smokers (30% each group). The vegetarianism was defined as avoiding consumption of any meat product for at least 3 years. Average duration of consuming vegetarian food was 9.95±5.17 years. The results of this pilot study shown that baseline DNA damage in vegetarian group was higher using the micronucleus test (total number of micronuclei was 7.35±3.57 vs 3.89±1.71) and the comet assay (tail intensity was 2.52±0.91 vs 1.39±0.58) at statistical level p<0.05. Since the DNA damage is critical in cancer initiation, and micronucleus test has cancer predictive properties, such results imply that omnivorous diet might be more appropriate for human consumption in the context of human genome instability. Still, it has to be taken into account that most of our omnivorous volunteers shown habits that follow Mediterranean type of diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Further studies are needed that will include more biomedical biomarkers and that will be performed on greater number of volunteers to draw more reliable conclusions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA