Previously, we have investigated the potential for a pro-oxidant interaction of iron and ascorbate in vivo in iron and ascorbate cosupplementation or ascorbate supplementation studies. In this study, for the first time, the effects of iron supplementation on oxidative damage to DNA in healthy individuals with plasma ascorbate levels at the upper end of the normal range were examined. Forty female and male volunteers (mean plasma ascorbate approximately equal to 70 micromol/L) were supplemented with a daily dose of syrup (ferrous glycine sulphate equivalent to 12.5 mg iron) for 6 weeks. Serum ferritin, transferrin bound iron, % saturation of transferrin and plasma ascorbate were assessed and the mean dietary intakes of all subjects were estimated through food frequency questionnaires. Oxidative damage to DNA bases from white blood cells was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM), using isotope-labelled standards for quantification. Iron supplementation did not affect any of the iron status parameters. There were also no detrimental effects, over the period under investigation, in terms of oxidative damage to DNA. However, the effects of larger doses or of longer supplementation periods should also be investigated.
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.