Alternative Health Blog

In a study involving 82 male airline pilots exposed to ionizing radiation, high dietary intake of niacin was found to be significantly inversely associated with chromosome translocation frequency, a biomarker of cumulative DNA damage. The adjusted rate ratio for subjects in the highest versus the lowest tertiles of dietary niacin intake was 0.58. The association between dietary niacin intake and reduced translocation frequency was particularly significant in subjects consuming high amounts of whole grains and low amounts of red meat and processed meat. The authors conclude, "Our data suggest that a high intake of niacin from food or a diet high in whole grains but low in red and processed meat may protect against cumulative DNA damage in IR-exposed persons."