Correlation between folate and vitamin B12 and markers of DNA stability in healthy men: Preliminary results

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find correlations between folate and vitamin B12 on baseline damage in white blood cells and their association with smoking, alcohol consumption and ageing. Thirty-six healthy vitamin nondeficient male subjects were selected in a randomized study. Comet assay (SCGE) and micronucleus (MN) assay were used as biomarkers of DNA damage. The amount of DNA damage was correlated with vitamin B12 and folic acid concentration. Positive, but non-significant correlation (canonical R = 0.61; χ2 = 28.97; P = 0.253) was found between micronucleus (MN) frequency or comet assay parameters (SCGE) and five covariates (age, smoking, alcohol consumption, vitamin B12 and folate blood serum concentration). The highest MN frequency was observed in the group with the lowest vitamin B12 concentration (F = 3.59; P = 0.024). The SCGE assay failed to show significant correlation with vitamin B12 or folic acid concentration. Concentration of vitamin B12 was significantly correlated with incidence of micronuclei. Our results present background data that could be valuable for future genotoxicological monitoring.