Watercress supplementation in diet reduces lymphocyte DNA damage and alters blood antioxidant status in healthy adults

Abstract

Background:Cruciferous vegetable (CV) consumption is associated with a reduced risk of several cancers in epidemiologic studies.Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the effects of watercress (a CV) supplementation on biomarkers related to cancer risk in healthy adults.Design:A single-blind, randomized, crossover study was conducted in 30 men and 30 women (30 smokers and 30 nonsmokers) with a mean age of 33 y (range: 19–55 y). The subjects were fed 85 g raw watercress daily for 8 wk in addition to their habitual diet. The effect of supplementation was measured on a range of endpoints, including DNA damage in lymphocytes (with the comet assay), activity of detoxifying enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) in erythrocytes, plasma antioxidants (retinol, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, lutein, and β-carotene), plasma total antioxidant status with the use of the ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, and plasma lipid profile.Results:Watercress supplementation (active compared with control phase) was associated with reductions in basal DNA damage (by 17%; P= 0.03), in basal plus oxidative purine DNA damage (by 23.9%; P= 0.002), and in basal DNA damage in response to ex vivo hydrogen peroxide challenge (by 9.4%; P= 0.07). Beneficial changes seen after watercress intervention were greater and more significant in smokers than in nonsmokers. Plasma lutein and β-carotene increased significantly by 100% and 33% (P< 0.001), respectively, after watercress supplementation.Conclusion:The results support the theory that consumption of watercress can be linked to a reduced risk of cancer via decreased damage to DNA and possible modulation of antioxidant status by increasing carotenoid concentrations.