People of average age who lack vitamin D have shorter telomeres than those who are not lacking. Vitamin D could therefore constitute an “anti-aging shield”.
Telomeres are specialized structures located at the end of the chromosomes. They protect chromosomes from degradation, prevent them from merge and recombine. In most cells – except stem and germal cells – telomeres shorten each cell division. This process leads to short telomeres, which researchers interpret as a sign of aging or instability of genes. This shortening increases the risk of age -related diseases. In animals, short telomeres are associated with an increased risk of cancers.
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated in certain studies (not all) with a higher risk of mortality and cancer. In addition, short -leukocyte telomeres (LTL) are in several studies a marker of aging and a characteristic of the instability of genes and the risk of cancer.
Read: The lack of vitamin D exposes to an increased risk of death, especially by cancer
A link between vitamin D status and length of the telomeres
A study, published in the Journal of Nutritiontherefore aimed to examine the link between the rate of vitamin D in the blood (25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25 (OH) D and the length of the telomeres in the general American population (1).
From data from the Nhanes study 2001 – 2002, researchers studied the status of 1542 adults aged 20 to 39, 1336 adults of middle age (40-59 years) and 1382 older adults (60 and over). LTL was measured and serum concentrations of 25 (OH) D were considered optimal if they were greater than or equal to 50 Nmol/L. (This value seems low: for information, we generally consider that we are a deficit below 75 Nmol/L).
Read: How to interpret your blood rate of vitamin D? (subscribers)
In 40-59 year olds, an increase in serum vitamin D of 10 Nmol/L was associated with higher LTL, after having taken into account several factors that can influence this result. In the same age group, vitamin D ≥ 50 Nmol/L levels were associated with a longer LTL than when vitamin D was less than 50 Nmol/L. The association was independent of age, sex, ethnicity, corpulence and other factors.
Among middle age participants, a low rate of vitamin D is associated with shorter telomeres, which suggests that vitamin D deficits are associated with gene instability. But does vitamin supplementation influence the length of the telomeres?
The effects of vitamin D supplementation
According to the vital test, led by researchers from the Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia, vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of telomeres (2). This test followed for five years American women aged 55 and over and men aged 50 and over.
In a press release (3), Joann Manson, head of the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Co -buyer of the study, said that “Vital is the first randomized large -scale and long -term trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres and preserve its length. »» Supplementation with 2000 IU per day of vitamin D3 has significantly reduced the shortening of telomeres over four years, the equivalent of almost three years of aging avoided!
Vitamin D supplements protect telomeres
“This is particularly interesting because Vital has also shown the benefits of vitamin D in the reduction of inflammation and the reduction in the risks of certain chronic diseases linked to aging, such as advanced cancer and autoimmune diseases,” explains Joann Manson.
These results suggest that vitamin D complementation could counter the effects of cell aging.
How to avoid vitamin D deficit
To avoid a vitamin D deficit: expose exposure briefly but regularly in the sun in fine weather (April-October). In winter, the risk of deficit is high and the diet (fatty fish, enriched food) generally does not prevent or correct it. Ideally, it would be necessary to do a blood dosage as winter approaches and, if necessary, request a prescription from vitamin D3 to your doctor (bulbs) or take D3 in the form of a food supplement. Specialists advise rates between 30 and 45 ng/ml (75-112.5 nmol/L), which, in many people corresponds to a consumption of 1000 to 2000-3000 IU/day.
