evaluation of ameliorative potential of vitamins e and c on dna double strand break (dsb) in patients undergoing computed tomography (ct): a clinical study

Computed tomography (ct) is one of the most important diagnostic x-ray procedures which plays an important role in increasing the patient dose values. the purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamins e and c in lowering down the level of dna double strand break (dsb) caused by ct scan. sixty patients for abdomen/pelvic enhanced ct scan were randomly assigned to placebo (control), vitamin c, and vitamin e groups. the patient blood samples were taken before and immediately after the ct scan. counting the number of dsb was performed using γ-h2ax method as a sensitive biomarker. immediately after the ct scan, the mean number of dsbs/cell increased in all three groups of control (131%, p<0.001), vitamin c (103%, p <0.001), and vitamin e (66%, p<0.001) compared to their mean before the ct scan. furthermore, the results showed that vitamin e decreased the mean number of dsbs/cell by 22% in comparison with the control group (p =0.023), whereas vitamin c had no significant effect on reducing the dsb (<3%, p =0.741). it is concluded that the administration of vitamin e one hour before the ct scan, significantly decreases dsb levels.