News
Omega-3 fatty acids may protect against irregular heartbeat
30 March 2012
Increased blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in elderly by about 25%, suggests a new US study.
01 October 2011
According to a new Australian review, zinc plays a critical role in the regulation of DNA repair mechanisms, cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death.
The review focused on studies investigating the role of zinc in the maintenance of genome integrity and the effects of deficiency or excess on genomic stability events and cell death (1). The majority of studies suggest that zinc deficiency may influence DNA damage via two different mechanisms: by increasing oxidative stress resulting in increased DNA damage and/or by impairing DNA damage responses. Zinc seems to be an essential cofactor or structural component for important antioxidant defense proteins and DNA repair enzymes and may also affect activities of enzymes involved in methylation reactions.
The researchers commented that it would be important to determine dietary reference values for a micronutrient, such as zinc, based on DNA damage prevention. However, an optimal concentration range would differ depending on alterations in geno- and phenotype. As there is limited information on the relationship between zinc status and DNA damage/chromosomal instability, there would be an urgent need to conduct robust and reproducible intervention in vivo studies with well-validated biomarkers of DNA integrity.
The involvement of genomic stability in the development of cancer has been well-established. Cancer is recognized as a disease of altered gene expression caused by genome and epigenome alterations. Apart from the effect of environmental gene toxins, one of the key components in cancer initiation is a loss of genome stability due to nutritional imbalances and their interaction with certain genes. Recent research has focused on the involvement of micronutrients and their role in fundamental processes such as DNA synthesis, DNA methylation, DNA repair and cell death (2). It has been shown that dietary deficiencies in certain micronutrients, such as folate, and antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C or E, can result in DNA-strand breaks and DNA base lesions similar to those induced by carcinogenic doses of ionizing radiation (3).
30 March 2012
Increased blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in elderly by about 25%, suggests a new US study.
1 April 2013
A new review from the UK suggests that sufficient blood vitamin D concentrations may decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure.
1 February 2014
The task of the immune system is to protect the organism against harmful external influences, e.g., microorganisms. One consequence of an immune reaction is inflammation, which serves to remove foreign bodies or pathologically altered cells. However, if the immune reaction is not appropriate it may lead to undesirable effects, including increased vulnerability to infections if immune function is diminished, or allergies, autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation in the case of hyperfunction. To fulfill its many and various protective and signaling functions, the immune system relies on the adequate availability of micronutrients. Potential deficiencies can affect both unspecific (innate) and specific (acquired) immunity.