Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the antimutagenic effects of vitamin E among the male nurses of oncology hospital exposed to chemotherapy drugs. Several studies have demonstrated that nurses occupationally expose to cytostatic drugs. In the present study the antimutagenicity effect of vitamin-E on urine samples of male nurses from oncology and non-oncology hospitals were investigated and compared by using the Ames and Comet assays.

Material and Methods: A total of 70 nurses from oncology and non- oncology hospitals participated in the study. All urine samples of nurses before and after vitamin E consumption (200 mg/day) were evaluated by Ames and comet assays. In all steps the collected urine samples extracts were prepared using amberlit XAD-2 resins. Both mutagenicity and comet assays were studied by considering Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and DNA damage respectively. The data were analyzed with Anova one way by using t-test statistical and software of CASP.

Results: In the present study 30% of oncology nursing staff had both apoptosis and DNA breaking in nucleus of their urine epithelial cells. However, oral consumption of vitamin E had been significant antimutagenic effects in recovery of DNA damage and able to decrease the nucleus length in urine epithelial cells.

Discussion: It was appeared that after vitamin E consumption there was significantly depletion of urinary mutagenic activity in urine extracts among the exposed nursing personnel.

Conclusion: We conclude that mild effects of vitamin E against poor safety and significant adverse events among men nurses handling cytotoxic drugs. There is, therefore, a need to improve the safety of the work environment, make available protective equipment, develop standard practice guidelines for oncology nurses and higher therapeutic doses of vitamin E may be a promising compound for reducing mutagenic effects of antineoplastic drugs among oncology hospital nurses.