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# Antioxidant rich fruits/veggies, vitamin C prevents mutation
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/antioxidant_rich_fruits_veggies_vitamin_c_prevents_mutation_1126/
- Published: 2012-11-26T08:08:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:44:43.000Z
- Description: Among 82 male airline pilots, dietary vitamin C, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein-zeaxanthin were inversely associated with chromosome translocations. Pilots eating above-median amounts of high-vitamin-C produce had 36 to 41 percent fewer such mutations.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Vitamins, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Monday Nov 26, 212 (foodconsumer.org) -- Many of food consumers have already known that high intake of vitamin C can protect against damage induced by ionizing radiation. A new study has confirmed that eating antioxidants-rich fruits and vegetables can protect against DNA mutation, which would otherwise increase risk of mutation and cancer development.

L.C. Yong of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH and colleagues conducted the study to examine whether dietary antioxidants may protect against DNA mutation induced by various endogenous and exogenous risk factors, including ionizing radiation (IR).

For the study, which was published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers used a self-administered semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire to estimate the intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids and measured a type of DNA mutation, translocations in 82 male airline pilots

Intakes of vitamin C, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food were significantly and inversely associated with translocation frequency.

However, "the intake of vitamin E, alpha-carotene, or lycopene from food; total vitamin C or E from food and supplements; or vitamin C or E or multivitamin supplements" was not associated with translocation frequency. 

Pilots who ate above median amounts of high vitamin c fruit and vegetables, citric fruit and green leafy vegetables had 39, 36 and 41 percent less translocation mutation, compared to those who ate below median amounts of these fruits and vegetables, respectively.

Those who had above median intake of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food had nearly 70% less translocation mutation, compared to those who used below median intake.

The researchers concluded "High combined intakes of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food, or a diet high in their food sources, may protect against cumulative DNA damage in IR (ionizing radiation)-exposed persons."

Previous studies have shown vitamin C supplements are also effective in preventing radiation induced mutation.