Urinary Mutagens and Lifestyle Factors

doi:10.1006/pmed.1996.0091

Preventive Medicine

Volume 25, Issue 5, September 1996, Pages 569-574

https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1996.0091 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background.Lifestyle determines the amount of exposure to environmental carcinogens/mutagens. We examined the relationship between various lifestyle factors and the urinary level of mutagens, which reflects both exposure dose and metabolism of these carcinogens/mutagens.Methods.Twenty-four-hour urine specimens obtained from 69 males were subjected to blue rayon extraction, after which the elutions were fractionated by carboxymethyl cellulose column chromatography. The mutagens were measured by using an S9-mediatedSalmonellamutagenicity test. The subjects were classified into three groups according to their total scores on a questionnaire regarding eight health practices: cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, nutritional balance, eating breakfast, sleeping hours, working hours, physical exercise, and mental stress.Results.Compared with those with “poor” health practice, subjects with “good” health practice showed a significantly lower urinary level of mutagens in all chromatography fractions, as well as in the acid- and alkali-elutable fractions. Cigarette smoking and nutritional balance were the most highly correlated factors.Conclusions.Our findings show that poor health practices increase the urinary level of mutagens, suggesting that a healthy lifestyle reduces exposure to carcinogens/mutagens and may reduce cancer risk.

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Cited by (17)

Effects of lifestyle on micronuclei frequency in human lymphocytes in Japanese hard-metal workers
2009, Preventive Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
The HPI was found to be associated with mortality and morbidity from cancers in Japan (Hirayama and Morimoto, 1990). Furthermore, HPI was significantly associated with DNA damage in human leukocytes (Lu et al., 2006), NK cell activity (Kusaka et al., 1992), mutagens in urine (Mure et al., 1996), and total IgE level (Shirakawa and Morimoto, 1991). It has been recognized that an increased frequency of chromosome breaks was an initial event in assessing oncogene risk, thus suggesting that these alterations may play a significant role in carcinogenesis (Tucker and Preston, 1996; Bonassi et al., 2000).
The risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other major causes of mortality are largely attributable to lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking, hours of working and sleeping, physical activity, diet, and stress. Earlier studies have suggested that an unhealthy lifestyle is also associated with increased lymphocyte sensitivity to mutagens, oxidative DNA damage level, and leukocyte DNA damage. In order to explore the genotoxicity of unhealthy lifestyle, we evaluated the effect of overall lifestyle as well as some individual lifestyle factors on micronuclei (MN) frequency in cultured human lymphocytes.
The study was conducted among 208 healthy adult (19 to 59 years) male Japanese hard-metal workers. The subjects were divided into groups according to their self-reported good, moderate, and poor lifestyles based on their responses to a questionnaire regarding eight health practices (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours, working hours, physical exercise, eating breakfast, balanced nutrition, and mental stress), the presence or absence of each of which was summed to obtain a health practice index (HPI: range 0–8). Peripheral blood was taken and the cytokinesis-block micronuclei (CBMN) assay was performed.
Total lifestyle quality as measured by the HPI was strongly negatively associated with MN frequency in cultured human lymphocytes (p < 0.01). Nutritional imbalance, lack of regular exercise (< 2 times per week), insufficient sleep ( ≤ 6 h per day), and overtime working (≥ 9 h per day) each contributed significantly to higher MN frequency (all p < 0.05). In the smoker group, a significantly higher MN frequency was only found in heavy smokers (p < 0.05). On the other hand, mental stress, eating breakfast, and alcohol drinking had no effect on MN frequency.
Taken together, these findings indicate that poor lifestyle habits significantly increase MN frequency in human lymphocytes.
Negatively-charged air conditions and responses of the human psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune network
2008, Environment International
Against increasing environmental adverse effects on human health such as those associated with water and ground pollution, as well as out- and indoor air conditions, trials were conducted to support and promote human health by improving the indoor air atmosphere. This study was performed to estimate the effect of negatively-charged air conditions on human biological markers related to the psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune (PNEI) network.
After construction of negatively-charged experimental rooms (NCRs), healthy volunteers were admitted to these rooms and control rooms (CTRs) and various biological responses were analyzed.
NCRs were constructed using a fine charcoal coating and applying an electric voltage (72 V) between the backside of walls and the ground. Various biological markers were monitored that related to general conditions, autonomic nervous systems, stress markers, immunological parameters and blood flow.
Regarding the indoor environment, only negatively-charged air resulted in the difference between the CTR and NCR groups. The well-controlled experimental model-room to examine the biological effects of negatively-charged air was therefore established. Among the various parameters, IL-2, IL-4, the mean RR interval of the heart rate, and blood viscosity differed significantly between the CTR and NCR groups. In addition, the following formula was used to detect NCR-biological responses: Biological Response Value (BRV) = 0.498 + 0.0005 [salivary cortisol] + 0.072 [IL-2] + 0.003 [HRM-SD] − 0.013 [blood viscosity] − 0.009 [blood sugar] + 0.017 [pulse rate].
Negatively-charged air conditions activated the immune system slightly, smoothened blood flow and stabilized the autonomic nervous system. Although this is the first report to analyze negatively-charged air conditions on human biological responses, the long-term effects should be analyzed for the general use of these artificial atmospheres.
Health practices and leukocyte DNA damage in Japanese hard-metal workers
2006, Preventive Medicine
To investigate associations between total lifestyles and levels of leukocyte DNA damage in healthy Japanese workers.
Eight health practices were investigated in 118 Japanese hard-metal workers by questionnaire in Osaka, Japan, in July 2004. Peripheral leukocyte DNA damage levels, as expressed by comet parameters, were determined using an alkaline comet assay.
After crediting one point to each of the health practices and accumulating them into a health practice index (HPI: 0−8 points), subjects with poor health practices (HPI = 0–3 points) showed a significantly higher tail moment than those with moderate (HPI = 4, 5 points) or good health practices (HPI = 6–8 points) (P < 0.01). Risk estimates for tail moment above the 75th percentile showed that, compared to those with good health practices, subjects with moderate health practices had an odds ratio of 1.76 (95% CI: 0.52, 5.91), and those with poor health practices had an odds ratio of 6.75 (95% CI: 1.80, 25.27) (P_trend < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that HPI was a significant predictor of the decreased tail moment (P < 0.01).
Poor lifestyles demonstrate a cumulative association with leukocyte DNA damage in these Japanese hard-metal workers.
Modulation of natural killer cell activity by supplementation of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei in habitual smokers
2005, Preventive Medicine
Habitual smoking significantly reduces natural killer (NK) cell activity. To clarify whether the intake of fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria restores NK cell activity in habitual smokers, we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind test.
Ninety-nine subjects with smoking habits were randomly divided into two groups and daily for 3 weeks were given fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei or placebo. NK cell activity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) was determined before and after the intake. Average number of cigarettes smoked and number of cigarettes that the subjects smoked before giving blood after getting up on the inspection day were asked, and these data were used to adjust the influence of smoking on NK cell activity.
NK cell activity in individuals was inversely correlated to numbers of cigarettes smoked. Averaged NK cell activity adjusted by the numbers of cigarettes was significantly higher in individuals drinking fermented milk containing L. casei than those drinking a placebo. However, the proportion of NK cells was not different between individuals drinking either fermented milk containing L. casei or the placebo.
Intake of fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria was considered effective for restoring the NK cell activity of habitual smokers.
Lifestyles and mental health status are associated with natural killer cell and lymphokine-activated killer cell activities
2001, Science of the Total Environment
We investigated the association of lifestyle and mental health status with natural killer (NK) cell and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activities in healthy males. NK cell activity was determined in 105 male workers and LAK cell activity was determined in 54 male workers. Peripheral blood was obtained from each subject and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the blood. These PBMC were used as effector cells. LAK cells were generated by incubation of PBMC with interleukin-2 for 72 h. NK cell activity against NK-sensitive K562 cells and LAK cell activity against NK-resistant Raji cells were examined by ⁵¹Cr release assay. Overall lifestyles were evaluated according to the answers on a questionnaire regarding eight health practices (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, eating breakfast, hours of sleep, hours of work, physical exercise, nutritional balance, mental stress). Subjects with a good overall lifestyle showed significantly higher NK cell (P<0.05) and LAK cell (P<0.05) activities than those with a poor overall lifestyles. Among eight lifestyle factors, cigarette smoking has relatively strong effects on NK cell and LAK cell activities. Subjects who complained of unstable mental status had significantly lower NK cell activity than those who reported stable mental status. When subjects were divided into four groups by lifestyle and mental health status, subjects who had poor or moderate lifestyle and reported unstable mental status showed the lowest NK cell activity and subjects who had good lifestyle and reported stable mental status showed the highest NK cell activity among four groups.
Posttraumatic stress and change in lifestyle among the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake victims
1999, Preventive Medicine
Background. In 1995, Japan's Hanshin-Awaji area was severely damaged by a major earthquake. Lifestyle factors, sometimes associated with physical health and mortality, have also been known to be associated with mental health status. This report examines the relationship between the subsequent change in lifestyle and the psychological stress induced by the earth quake.
Method. An investigation was made of 108 male in habitants of Awaji Island as to their individual lifestyle before and after the great earthquake, any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and their demographic variables.
Results. The mean PTSD score was higher in the worse lifestyle group than in the no/better lifestyle change group. Category B or D of PTSD scores were higher in the worse lifestyle group than in the no/better lifestyle change group. The percentage of subjects who lived in temporary public housing was higher in the worse lifestyle group than in the no/better lifestyle change group.
Conclusions. Worse change in lifestyle might be associated with high PTSD score in victims of Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

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^f1: Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kanehisa Morimoto. Fax: +81-6-879-3929.

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Regular ArticleUrinary Mutagens and Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

Regular Article
Urinary Mutagens and Lifestyle Factors