Protection from DNA Damage by Use of an Aronia Food Supplement—Results from a Pilot Human Intervention Study

Purpose of Review: Polyphenols from fruits and other plant sources exhibit protective effects against DNA damage and markers of oxidative stress. Meanwhile, previous investigations tested rather large volumes of polyphenol-rich fruit juices; hence, there is a lack of information on the efficacy of small-volume supplementation concepts suitable for daily routine. We designed a 6-week pilot study on the use of such a food supplement (aronia+) including ten healthy male volunteers and tested for effects on DNA integrity, oxidation-related parameters (Nrf2, SOD, GPx, CAT, and oxidized LDL), and blood lipids. Recent Findings: Tendencies towards a decrease were observed for both total and background DNA strand breaks but were not significant after 4-week consumption of the food supplement. Transcription levels of Nrf2 were elevated; meanwhile, Nrf2/ARE-related enzymes were not affected (GPx) or even slightly decreased (SOD, CAT). Marginal reduction was observed for total and LDL cholesterol, whereas other parameters remained almost unchanged. Summary: This explorative study yields first indications on protective effects on DNA damage after intake of even small volumes of polyphenol-rich food supplements. These observations must be confirmed in a follow-up study with a higher number of included volunteers and an integration of a control group in order to clearly assess the effect of the intervention. © 2019, The Author(s).