Posted by Larry Hoover on September 22, 2003, at 8:37:25
In reply to Re: Tobacco and permanent lung damage, posted by jonh kimble on September 21, 2003, at 22:31:25
> Thanks. Ya what I mean by permanent lung damage is primarely incresed lung cancer susceptibility.
That's best interpreted in the context of genes. If you've got lung cancer in your extended family, you yourself may be at an increased risk. Also, genes are not the only issue to consider; genes interact with the environment, and the environment includes not only the outside world, but the tissue and cell environment in your body. DNA damage underlies tobacco-induced lung cancer. DNA repair is an ongoing process. It relies, however, to a significant degree, on vitamin status. Bruce Ames, the geneticist that developed the most-used tests for assessing chemicals causing DNA damage, has published review articles which strongly correlate cancer susceptibility with nutrient intake. And, it's the very same nutrients that I promote for mood disorders that are protective against cancer.
Lar
Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Apr;75(4):616-58
High-dose vitamin therapy stimulates variant enzymes with decreased coenzyme binding affinity (increased K(m)): relevance to genetic disease and polymorphisms.
Ames BN, Elson-Schwab I, Silver EA.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA. bames@chori.org
As many as one-third of mutations in a gene result in the corresponding enzyme having an increased Michaelis constant, or K(m), (decreased binding affinity) for a coenzyme, resulting in a lower rate of reaction. About 50 human genetic diseases due to defective enzymes can be remedied or ameliorated by the administration of high doses of the vitamin component of the corresponding coenzyme, which at least partially restores enzymatic activity. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms, in which the variant amino acid reduces coenzyme binding and thus enzymatic activity, are likely to be remediable by raising cellular concentrations of the cofactor through high-dose vitamin therapy. Some examples include the alanine-to-valine substitution at codon 222 (Ala222-->Val) [DNA: C-to-T substitution at nucleo-tide 677 (677C-->T)] in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH) and the cofactor FAD (in relation to cardiovascular disease, migraines, and rages), the Pro187-->Ser (DNA: 609C-->T) mutation in NAD(P):quinone oxidoreductase 1 [NAD(P)H dehy-drogenase (quinone)] and FAD (in relation to cancer), the Ala44-->Gly (DNA: 131C-->G) mutation in glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase and NADP (in relation to favism and hemolytic anemia), and the Glu487-->Lys mutation (present in one-half of Asians) in aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD + ) and NAD (in relation to alcohol intolerance, Alzheimer disease, and cancer).
Mutat Res 2001 Apr 18;475(1-2):7-20
DNA damage from micronutrient deficiencies is likely to be a major cause of cancer.
Ames BN.
University of California, 94720-3202, Berkeley, CA, USA. bnames@uclink4.berkeley.edu
A deficiency of any of the micronutrients: folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron, or zinc, mimics radiation in damaging DNA by causing single- and double-strand breaks, oxidative lesions, or both. For example, the percentage of the US population that has a low intake (<50% of the RDA) for each of these eight micronutrients ranges from 2 to >20%. A level of folate deficiency causing chromosome breaks was present in approximately 10% of the US population, and in a much higher percentage of the poor. Folate deficiency causes extensive incorporation of uracil into human DNA (4 million/cell), leading to chromosomal breaks. This mechanism is the likely cause of the increased colon cancer risk associated with low folate intake. Some evidence, and mechanistic considerations, suggest that Vitamin B12 (14% US elderly) and B6 (10% of US) deficiencies also cause high uracil and chromosome breaks. Micronutrient deficiency may explain, in good part, why the quarter of the population that eats the fewest fruits and vegetables (five portions a day is advised) has about double the cancer rate for most types of cancer when compared to the quarter with the highest intake. For example, 80% of American children and adolescents and 68% of adults do not eat five portions a day. Common micronutrient deficiencies are likely to damage DNA by the same mechanism as radiation and many chemicals, appear to be orders of magnitude more important, and should be compared for perspective. Remedying micronutrient deficiencies should lead to a major improvement in health and an increase in longevity at low cost.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:261946
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20030903/msgs/262361.html