Abstract
Background and objectives: Role and interaction of iron and antioxidant vitamins on DNA damage are not clear, so we decided to determine the effect of iron only (as Fe+3) or together with Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on DNA, and then assay effects of vitamin C, E and β - carotene on iron induced DNA damage in an In vitro model.
Materials and Methods: Caco-2 cells, the model of gut epithelium, were incubated with medium containing supplemented iron (0-560 micromole/Litter) as FeCl3 or iron plus NTA (Fe/NTA) for 30 minutes, and then DNA damage was measured. In the second part of study, the cells were incubated with 160 µM/L of iron (as Fe+3 / NTA) together with various doses of vitamin C (0-320 µM/L), E(0-320 µM/L), or β–carotene (0-12 µM/L). Then DNA damage was measured.
Results: Our study showed iron as Fe3+ doesn't have any effect on DNA, while together with NTA, caused signifcant DNA damage at doses higher than 160 µM/L. Vitamins C and E at low doses (2.5 and 2.5-10 µM/L, respectively), decreased iron-induced DNA damage(p<0.05). β–carotene doesn’t have significant effect in reducing of iron-induced DNA damage. At higher doses, all vitamins increased iron-induced DNA damage (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In this in vitro model, soluble iron at high concentrations can cause DNA damage.In the persence of high concentration of antioxidant vitamins, this effect of iron can be strenghtened.