How can we protect ourselves from the increasing air pollution?
According to a new study, the intake of the right vitamins could protect against travel in a city with heavy air pollution, their DNA before the development of heritable genetic damage, usually caused by the Inhalation of very fine particles.
In a study of Columbia University in New York, it was found that vitamins can protect us from the harmful effects of air pollution. The results of the study were published in the English scientific journal “PNAS”.
Combination of three B vitamins protect against air pollution
An international team of researchers found that a combination of three B vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12) seems to strengthen the self-defense mechanism of the so-called genome molecules, the high-PM2.5 concentrations (particles mutate with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) easily. So inflammatory and other symptoms can be compensated for a short-term exposure to air pollution. Due to the early results, it was not the researcher possible to recommend dosages they recommended, however, more B-vitamin rich food than usual when you are traveling in cities with high air pollution (for example, Hong Kong and Beijing).
A well-balanced diet for protection?
Biologically speaking, it is expected that B vitamins have in the food the same effect on the Epigenome, such as dietary supplements on the Basis of tablets, explain the authors of the study. A healthy, well-balanced diet with adequate sources of the Vitamin B should suffice actually. Leaf vegetables and beans are rich in folic acid, Vitamin-B6 is in fish, beef liver and starchy vegetables contain B12 in fish, meat, eggs and milk. People who constantly have a high PM2.5-are exposed to content, for example, in highly polluted cities, could benefit from the intake of food supplements, suggest the researchers. If you are not overdosed, apply B vitamins in the case of oral administration for most people as harmless. If you want to increase the supply, talk in advance with your doctor or your Doctor.
Study was conducted on people
In contrast to most previous studies that have been conducted on animals or cultured cells, the researchers examined in the current study, ten people. They are all healthy non-smokers were of different ethnic origin and between the ages of 18 and 60 years. In the first Phase of the experiment, the volunteers inhaled the concentrated Smog with PM2. 5 value of more than 250 micro-grams per cubic meter of air for two hours before blood samples charges. In the second Phase, they received four weeks of B-vitamin supplements before you ran the same process.
What symptoms can cause the air pollution?
Known symptoms of exposure to Smog are chest pains, dizziness, headaches and heart diseases. The researchers conducted a historical study, it was found that a high degree of air pollution depends on a tenfold increase in the mortality rate. Some recent studies have also found that PM2.5 human brain cells and the function of genes affect can cause harm to.. The molecular mechanism is not yet fully understood.
Vitamin pills help to prevent and repair the existing damage
The authors of the new study confirmed that a high level of air pollution overwhelm the adaptive capacity of a gene and lead to errors in the genre plication can trigger unexpected mutations. You observed this kind of damage in the T-helper cells, which play an important role in the human immune system. The intake of supplements with Vitamin B over a period of four weeks reduced the exposure to high PM2. 5 values, caused damage to 28 to 76 percent, reports the authors of the study. The results suggest that the vitamin pills is not only a preventive impact, but also a part of the genetic damage could be repaired, caused by the exposure to high PM2. 5 levels, explain the researchers.
People need to take action against environmental pollution
The fight against the damage caused by air pollution can be permanently won by taking vitamins, much more important is the environment to combat pollution in General. Here, the emission control and regulation, remains the backbone of disease prevention. (as)
