Increased BMI and Waist Circumference are Related to Increased DNA Damage in Women with Overweight and Metabolic Syndrome

Aims: To test if the level of oxidative stress is different in women with overweight and with metabolic syndrome.

Study Design: Cross- sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: Endocrinology Clinic of the Botucatu Medical School- UNESP, between March 2013 and March 2014.

Methodology: Eighty women (31.15 ± 7.91 years old) attended at the Endocrinology Clinic of the Botucatu Medical School- UNESP composed this study. According to the body mass index (BMI) they were divided in 3 groups: Group 1 (G1, n=36 eutrophic); Group 2 (G2, n=21 overweight) and Group 3 (G3, n=23 women with MS-Metabolic syndrome). It was evaluated: dietary intake of macro and micronutrients dietary; antioxidant capacity (HAC) of plasma and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA); carotenoids, retinol and α-tocopherol in peripheral lymphocytes and the comet assay.

Results: Damage to DNA, oxidized purines and the levels of MDA didn’t differ between women with overweight and with metabolic syndrome but they are higher than those in the control group. Correlation was positive for BMI and waist circumference (WC) with damage to DNA. Linear regression showed that higher consumption of protein and sodium is related to damage to DNA and both carotenoids and omega- 3 are protectors.

Conclusion: Damage to DNA occurs independent of overweight or obesity and WC could be a predictor for damage to DNA.