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Vitamin C levels in blood are influenced by polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases

European Journal of Nutrition volume 50, pages 437–446 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are intimately involved in combating oxidative stress and in detoxifying xenobiotics. Our objective was to examine possible interactions between polymorphisms in GST genes and plasma vitamin C, tocopherols and carotenoids in 149 reference subjects and 239 subjects occupationally exposed to mineral fibres (asbestos, rock wool, glass fibre), agents that induce oxidative stress.

Methods

Deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1, and substitution 105Ile/Val in GSTP1 genes were determined by PCR, antioxidants in plasma were measured by HPLC.

Results

Tocopherols and carotenoids were affected by age, sex, smoking, occupational exposure to fibres, but not by GST polymorphisms. Vitamin C level was influenced by sex, smoking and occupational exposure. Subjects with deletion of GST had lower vitamin C levels compared with subjects carrying the functional gene variant. Vitamin C levels varied according to GSTM1 polymorphism in the whole group (p < 0.05), in all reference subjects (p < 0.05), in the asbestos factory reference group (p < 0.05), and according to GSTT1 polymorphism in reference group of the rock wool plant (p < 0.05). Vitamin C levels were approximately 20% lower in subjects with both functionally deficient genes in the whole group (p < 0.01) and in all non-exposed subjects (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The correspondence of lower vitamin C levels with non-functional GST isoenzymes may indicate a causal connection between two antioxidant defence pathways, also the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. It seems that supplementation by natural antioxidants is particularly important for subjects with unfavourable genetic makeup and in those exposed to oxidative stress.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all participants working in the asbestos and mineral wool factories, as well as the management, for their enthusiastic participation. Sampling and medical investigation were carried out with help of the National Institute of Public Health in Nitra, Banska Bystrica, Ziar nad Hronom and Trnava. We thank Anna Moravkova, Anna Gaziova, Renata Mateova, Zuzana Rostasova, Kristina Gavalova, Lubica Mikloskova, Jarmila Jantoskova and Viera Vachalkova for their excellent technical help during sampling, Dr. Ladislava Wsolova for kindly helping with statistical analysis of FIBRETOX data, and Prof. Andrew Collins for his critical comments. This work was supported by the EC project FIBRETOX, contract no: QLK4-1999-01629.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no financial and commercial conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Applied Genetics, Slovak Medical University, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Alexandra Horska, Csilla Mislanova, Katarina Volkovova & Maria Dusinska

  2. Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy

    Stefano Bonassi

  3. Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Marcello Ceppi

  4. CEE-Health Effects Group, Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller, Norway

    Maria Dusinska

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  1. Alexandra Horska
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  2. Csilla Mislanova
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  3. Stefano Bonassi
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  4. Marcello Ceppi
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  5. Katarina Volkovova
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  6. Maria Dusinska
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Correspondence to Maria Dusinska.

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Horska, A., Mislanova, C., Bonassi, S. et al. Vitamin C levels in blood are influenced by polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases. Eur J Nutr 50, 437–446 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-010-0147-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-010-0147-2

Keywords

  • GST polymorphisms
  • Antioxidants
  • Vitamin C
  • Oxidative stress
  • Exposure to mineral fibres
  • Individual susceptibility