Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in smokers and their relationship to micronutrient levels and the glutathione-S-transferase M1 genotype

Sixty-three male cigarette smokers were entered into a cross-sectionalstudy to determine whether inverse associations existed betweenpolycydlic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—DNA adduct levelsand intake/serum levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitaminE. Associations between PAH–DNA adducts and intakes ofcarotene, as well as serum levels of ß-carotene, werealso determined. Fasting blood samples were collected for assaysof PAH—DNA adducts in circulating mononuclear cells, plasmacotinine and serum levels of vitamin A, ß-carotene,vitamin C and vitamin E. Since genetic deficiency in the detoxifyingenzyme glutathione S-traasferase M1 (GSTM1) has been associatedwith increased risk of lung cancer, GSTM1 genotype was alsodetermined. Analysis of PAH—DNA adducts by competitiveenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that 70%of the subjects had detectable adducts, with a mean of 4.38adducts/10⁸ nucleotides (range 1.00–24.1/10⁸ Pearson'smethod was utilized to determine whether any associations existedbetween the various host variables and PAH—DNA adducts.Previously, no significant associations were found between PAH—DNAadducts and cigarettes smoked/day, pack-years, daily/life timetar exposures or plasma cotinine levels (Santella et al., Carcinogenesis,13, 2041–2045, 1992). PAH—DNA adducts were inverselyassociated with serum cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E levels(r = –0.25, P