DNA Damage
Episodes
In this solo episode, I'm taking an in-depth look at magnesium – a critical yet frequently underestimated mineral in our health.
Dr. George Church discusses revolutionary technologies in the field of genetic engineering.
In this clip, Drs. Levine and Patrick discuss the epigenetic changes that occur with age, including methylation of CpG sites.
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In this solo episode, I'm taking an in-depth look at magnesium – a critical yet frequently underestimated mineral in our health.
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Dr. George Church discusses revolutionary technologies in the field of genetic engineering.
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In this clip, Drs. Levine and Patrick discuss the epigenetic changes that occur with age, including methylation of CpG sites.
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Drs. Levine and Patrick discuss how and why individuals age at different rates and how menopause & obesity may increase an individual's rate of aging.
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In this clip, Bruce Ames describes how folate is critical for the transferring of single-carbon groups between molecules.
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In this clip, Dr. Roger Seheult and Dr. Rhonda Patrick describe why mRNA vaccines do not alter human genetics.
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The stability of methylation patterns on DNA samples means the data can be trusted more in the lab when investigating anti-aging interventions.
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Rhonda Exercise Aging Sleep Telomeres Vitamin C Cholesterol Omega-3 DNA Damage Fasting Coffee Magnesium Eyes Calcium Time-Restricted Eating Breast Milk Moringa LactateDr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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A special two-hour Q&A with Dr. Jed Fahey, an expert on sulforaphane, chemoprotection, and phytochemicals.
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In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses the current sulforaphane research as it pertains to DNA damage, and highlights the importance of considering the different forms of studies.
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In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick talks about the importance of obtaining adequate magnesium in the diet.
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In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick talks about the importance of obtaining adequate magnesium and describes her strategies, including her preferred dietary magnesium supplement.
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Dr. Patrick covers vitamin C's diverse aspects: bioavailability, immune function, viral protection, lung health, cancer impact, exercise effects, and more!
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Rhonda explains NAD+: importance for aging, decline with age, boosters (nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide mononucleotide), and data in animals and humans.
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In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair identifies some of the practical considerations of resveratrol supplementation and discusses his personal use of the compound.
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In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair identifies some of the practical considerations of resveratrol supplementation and discusses his personal use of the compound.
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In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair describes how epigenomic modifications can influence how an organism ages, potentially reversing years of age-related damage.
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In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair explains why NAD+ levels decrease with age.
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In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair describes the role of NAD+ in the regulation of the body's circadian clock and sirtuin production.
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Dr. David Sinclair on Informational Theory of Aging, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Resveratrol & MoreDr. David Sinclair discusses the mechanisms that drive human aging and the importance of identifying ways to slow or reverse aging's effects.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick describes some of the different types of fasting and identifies the advantages associated with each.
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Dr. Eric Verdin explains how nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels diminish with age along with the ongoing research to understand the reasons why.
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Dr. Ruth Patterson describes how eating following the body's circadian clock enables the body to focus on repair rather than on digestion.
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Epigenetics Vitamin D Nutrition Exercise Aging Metabolism Sleep Diabetes Telomeres DNA Damage Stem Cells Stress Melatonin Vitamin E Genetics 23andMe Heat Stress Autophagy Autism Folate Sauna AntioxidantOur genes influence the way we absorb and metabolize micronutrients. Nutrigenomics looks at the influence genetic variation has over micronutrient absorption/metabolism and the biological consequences of this dynamic relationship.
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Dr. Judith Campisi discusses the role of cellular senescence in the aging process and the development of cancer.
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Nutrition Vitamin D Metabolism Diabetes Telomeres Omega-3 Inflammation Depression DNA Damage Stem Cells Micronutrients Mitochondria Autophagy Autism Schizophrenia Resveratrol Sulforaphane Insulin Blue LightDr. Rhonda Patrick makes her fifth appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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Dr. Patrick's keynote lecture at MBOG Congres 2015 in the Netherlands covers micronutrient inadequacy and Dr. Bruce Ames' triage theory.
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Dr. Aubrey de Grey discusses technologies that can repair the various types of damage that occur during the aging process.
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Is cancer just bad luck? To some degree, yes... but there's also a very, very large environmental and lifestyle component.
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Brain Nutrition Exercise Alzheimer's Cholesterol Omega-3 Inflammation Depression Probiotics DNA Damage Stem Cells Serotonin Mental Health Cannabinoid CurcuminDr. Rhonda Patrick makes her third appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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There may be something special about sources of omega-3 that are richer in the phosphatidylcholine form of DHA.
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Dr. Patrick describes how magnesium, an essential mineral that ~56% of the US population is deficient in, can help you maximize your mitochondria to increase oxidative capacity and, potentially, enhance exercise performance.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick makes her second appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
Topic Pages
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Epigenetic aging clocks
DNA damage drives repair-linked chromatin remodeling and methyltransferase recruitment, accelerating CpG methylation trajectories captured by epigenetic aging clocks.
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NAD+
DNA strand breaks activate PARP1, rapidly consuming NAD+ for poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and depleting intracellular NAD+ stores.
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Nicotinamide mononucleotide
DNA damage hyperactivates PARP, depleting cellular NAD+, whereas nicotinamide mononucleotide restores NAD+ pools, supporting PARP-dependent repair.
News & Publications
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Working night shifts may increase the risk of cancer by disrupting the production of melatonin, a hormone essential for DNA repair. This disruption can impair the body’s ability to repair oxidative DNA damage, potentially contributing to cancer development. A recent study found that melatonin supplementation could improve the repair of oxidative DNA damage in night shift workers.
The researchers conducted a four-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 40 night shift workers, providing them a 3-milligram dose of melatonin before their daytime sleep periods. They collected urine samples during daytime sleep and nighttime work periods, measuring 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), a marker of DNA repair capacity.
They found that melatonin supplementation nearly doubled 8-OH-dG excretion during daytime sleep, indicating improved DNA repair. However, they observed no difference in 8-OH-dG excretion during the night shift. Although the melatonin group experienced a slight decrease in wakefulness after falling asleep, the researchers found no differences in total sleep duration or sleepiness levels between the two groups.
The findings from this small study suggest that melatonin supplementation enhances oxidative DNA repair in night shift workers, offering the potential for reducing cancer risk. More extensive studies may identify optimal dosages and the long-term effects of melatonin supplementation in this population. Learn about the pros and cons of melatonin supplementation in this clip featuring Dr. Satchin Panda.
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Omega-3 fatty acids protect against DNA damage. pubs.rsc.org
Cellular DNA is subject to tens of thousands of injuries each day that arise from both endogenous sources, such as free radicals produced during normal metabolism, and exogenous sources, such as cytotoxic drugs, ionizing radiation, and cigarette smoke, among others. DNA damage induces genomic instability, a hallmark of aging. Evidence from a 2020 study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids protect against DNA damage.
The study involved 140 healthy children and adolescents (aged 9 to 13 years). Researchers assessed the children’s body measurements and collected blood samples to measure nutritional status (particularly the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, retinol, beta-carotene, and riboflavin) and DNA damage.
They found that a higher intake of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA was associated with less DNA damage. These findings held true even after considering other factors that influence DNA integrity, such as the children’s age, sex, body mass index, and others. The authors posited that the DNA-protective effects of EPA and DHA may be related to their capacity to resolve inflammation, a consequence of DNA damage.
These findings suggest that omega-3s reduce DNA damage in children. [Learn more about omega-3s in our overview article.](LINK)
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Long-lived adults have highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms. www.eurekalert.org
Semi-supercentenarians and supercentenarians – people who live to the age of 105 years and beyond – personify healthy aging, having avoided the diseases and concomitant disabilities that many adults experience, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive decline. Genetics play key roles in longevity and healthy aging. Findings from a recent study indicate that semi-supercentenarians and supercentenarians have unique genetic profiles characterized by highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms.
DNA repair is a cellular defense mechanism that helps maintain genomic integrity. Research had identified five DNA repair pathways, which are active throughout the varied stages of the cell cycle. Failure of these pathways contributes to genomic instability, a hallmark of many chronic diseases.
The study involved 81 semi-supercentenarians (105 years or older) and supercentenarians (110 years or older) who were matched with 36 healthy adults (average age, 68 years) living in the same regions of Italy. Using blood samples collected from the participants, the investigators conducted whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic differences between the two groups and to create a risk score for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. They compared their findings with those of a similar recent study.
The authors of the study identified five genetic variants among the participants, some of which are involved in DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and elimination of reactive oxygen species – a driver of inflammation. The participants also had fewer naturally occurring mutations, potentially conferring a protective effect against many chronic diseases. They replicated their findings in the other study.
These data suggest that people who live longer, healthier lives share similar genetic profiles that provide protection against many chronic diseases and promote healthy aging. Learn more about healthy aging in this episode featuring aging expert Dr. Judith Campisi.