Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) and 7-methylguanine (m 7 Gua) were measured by a column-switching high performance liquid chromatography method as markers of oxidative and methylating DNA damage, respectively. We investigated the associations between urinary 8-OH-dG or m 7 Gua and various lifestyle and demographic factors, such as age and sex. The urinary 8-OH-dG excretion level was positively correlated with cigarette smoking, but inversely correlated with fruit consumption, physical activity and total energy consumed per day. A multiple regression analysis revealed that daily physical activity and healthy meal combinations decreased the urinary 8-OH-dG level, whereas alcohol consumption increased it. In terms of the urinary m 7 Gua measurement, cigarette smoking, age and consumption of meat, fish, egg, soybean, etc. were positively correlated with the urinary m 7 Gua level, whereas body weight, BMI, physical activity, and dietary index score, which indicates good nutritional balance, were negatively correlated with the amount of m 7 Gua. Based on a multiple regression analysis, cigarette smoking and age correlated with the m 7 Gua level, while high BMI and healthy meal combinations have significant reducing effects on m 7 Gua level. Therefore, the urinary m 7 Gua level is considered to be a useful marker of DNA methylation, not only from smoking, but also from aging and unhealthy dietary habits. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 715-721) O xygen radicals are formed in cells by oxygen metabolism and various environmental agents, and they damage DNA, RNA, and proteins.(1) Among the many types of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) is a major product and is frequently analyzed as a marker of cellular oxidative stress related to carcinogenesis, (2,3) because 8-OH-dG induces mutations, (4,5) is excreted in the urine, and it has been analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD), (6,7) liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), (8) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS),and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).(10) However, the reproducibility and accuracy of its measurement are much higher with the HPLC-ECD and LC-MS/MS methods, as compared to the ELISA method. (11,12) We have reported that higher 8-OH-dG levels were observed in the lung DNA of smokers, (13) the liver DNA of chronic hepatitis patients, (14) and in the stomach DNA of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori.(15) It has also been reported that the urinary 8-OH-dG level is higher in cancer patients than in healthy people, (16) higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, (17) and lower in people who exercise moderately. (17) In addition, the urinary 8-OH-dG level was higher in men than in women, (7) and it negatively correlated to body mass index (BMI).(7) As an explanation for the relationship between a lean BMI and high urinary 8-OH-dG excretion, it has been suggested that lean persons have a higher metabolic rate than obese persons, (18) and therefore have higher oxidat...