DNA Damage and Obesity Among Faculty of Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a major concern on a global scale, particularly in Malaysia. It causes a physiological imbalance in the regulation and normal functioning of adipose tissue, leading to other medical issues such as hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and inflammation. These conditions trigger the production of oxidative stress, which is worsened by a decrease in antioxidant defence systems in obese patients. Methods: This study was conducted to evaluate body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), the level of subcutaneous fat in the whole body, trunk, leg, and arm and visceral fat of the subjects, and their relationship with DNA damage parameters among the students of Faculty of Pharmacy (n=89) in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). DNA damage was assessed using Comet Assay. Results: No significant differences (p>0.05) in the tail length, tail moment, olive moment, and the percentage of DNA in tail were observed between groups, although greater value of DNA damage parameters (mean ± SD) was seen in overweight group. There was also no correlation between the anthropometric measurements and DNA damage (p>0.05). In summary, it can be concluded that there was no significant difference in the levels of DNA damage among the normal and overweight/obese group with no correlation between DNA damage and BMI (p>0.05). Conclusion: Further study should be conducted to understand the mechanism/s that contributed to this condition.