Background level of 8-oxo-2 '-deoxyguanosine in lymphocyte DNA does not correlate with the concentration of antioxidant vitamins in blood plasma

Antioxidant vitamins, being effective free radical scavengers, can protect cellular DNA from oxidative damage. Therefore, in the present study we repo rt on the relationship between basal level of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine in hu man lymphocyte DNA and the concentration of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E). The average level of 8-oxo-2'-adeoyguanosine in lymphocytes of the stud ied group (15 males and 20 females) was 9.57 per 10(6) dG molecules. The en dogenous level of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the plasma was, on average, 56.78 muM, while the mean concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and alpha - tocopherol (vitamin E) were 1.24 muM and 25.74 muM, respectively. No correl ations were found between individual 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in lymp hocyte DNA and endogenous concentration of the vitamins.