Purpose: To demonstrate the adaptive response (AR) induced by low dose radiation in residents of high background radiation.Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from male residents aged from 50 to 59 years old in Yangjiang natural high background radiation area (HBRA) and Enping control area (CA).Measurements were conducted on activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), total antioxygen capacity (T-AOC) and expression of 06-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferas gene (MGMT).Results: All the enzymes activities and the MGMT expression in HBRA increased significantly compared to the control(P<0.05).Conclusions: The present study presented a stimulated anti-oxidative capacity and a higher level of MGMT expression in HBRA, indicating the role of enhanced anti-oxidative function and DNA repair in response to high background radiation.