Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, cereals, potatoes, poultry, beans, nuts, lean fish, dairy products, small quantities of red meat, moderate alcohol consumption, and olive oil. Most of these foods are rich sources of bioactive compounds which may play a role in the protection of oxidative stress including DNA damage. The present review provides a summary of the evidence deriving from human intervention studies aimed at evaluating the impact of Mediterranean diet on markers of DNA damage, DNA repair, and telomere length. The few results available show a general protective effect of MD alone, or in combination with bioactive-rich foods, on DNA damage. In particular, the studies reported a reduction in the levels of 8-hydroxy-2′–deoxyguanosine and a modulation of DNA repair gene expression and telomere length. In conclusion, despite the limited literature available, the results obtained seem to support the beneficial effects of MD dietary pattern in the protection against DNA damage susceptibility. However, further well-controlled interventions are desirable in order to confirm the results obtained and provide evidence-based conclusions.
Highlights
Oxidative stress is a condition characterized by an imbalance between formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense mechanisms
The results showed a down-regulation of polymerase (DNA directed) k (POLK) gene expression, suggesting a protective role of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on DNA
The MD represents a balanced and healthy dietary pattern associated with a reduced risk of major chronic diseases
Summary
Oxidative stress is a condition characterized by an imbalance between formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Overproduction of ROS can cause oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA [1]. The most common types of stressors, apart from oxidative species, include chemical agents, ultraviolet/ionizing radiation, and xenobiotics that can contribute to DNA damage and to formation of base deamination, base alkylation, base dimerization, base oxidation, and single/double strand breakage [1]. Telomeres consist of long stretches of TTAGGG-DNA repeats associated with specific proteins and located at the end of chromosomes. They are involved in Nutrients 2019, 11, 391; doi:10.3390/nu11020391 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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