Origins of Age-Related DNA Damage and Dietary Strategies for Its Reduction

The polyunsaturated fatty acids in biological membranes serve as both the target and source of oxidative damage and can be regarded as the most unstable class of biomolecules in the body. Lipid peroxides arising from both spontaneous and enzymatic oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids are the major source of endogenous DNA damage linked to various age-related pathologies and initiating carcinogenesis. Here we describe the major types of lipid peroxide-derived DNA adducts and propose a simple dietary strategy to reduce their formation. This may be particularly beneficial to the aging organism, which has progressively impaired natural protective systems.