A trial reported in Nutrition Researchfound a protective effect for zinc supplementation against DNA strand breaks.* This type of genetic damage is caused primarily by reactive oxygen species and can lead to further damage and consequent disorders if not repaired. The study included 40 Ethiopian women believed to be of low zinc status due to decreased meat intake and high dietary phytate levels, which reduce zinc absorption. Plasma zinc levels were measured in blood samples collected at the beginning of the study. The women were given 20 mgzinc or a placebo daily for 17 days. Comet assay of intracellular DNA strand breaks was conducted in cells collected at the beginning and end of the trial. By the end of the study, comet tail measurement of DNA strand breaks decreased from an average of 39.7to 30.0in the supplemented group. DNA repairis an essential element of longevity and a number of nutrients that health conscious people supplement with today have been shown to help facilitate DNA repair. Zinc levels and DNA damage, the comet assay, a method that measures DNA strand breaks in cells, may represent a sensitive functional tool to assess response to zinc supplementation.” * Nutr Res. 2015 Jan;35(1):49-55. From LifeExtension
