UNDERNUTRITION AND AGING - EFFECTS ON DNA-REPAIR IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES

Subjects of Indian population belonging to 3 age groups-young (8-14 yr s), adult (20-35 yrs) and old (greater than or equal to 55 yrs) were d ivided into 'normal' and 'undernourished' groups based on Body Mass In dex (BMI) and history of diet consumption. DNA repair markers like uns cheduled DNA synthesis (UDS), activities of DNA polymerase beta and tw o endodeoxyribonucleases, (UV- and AP-DNases) were studied in the lymp hocytes of these subjects under different conditions. The 'undernouris hed' group showed higher activities of these enzymes and also a reduce d decline in age-related DNA repair capacity. These results provide ev idence for beneficial effects of reduced calorie consumption in humans as well.