Supplementing with Vitamin D could potentially extend lifespan by approximately 3 years.
A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has indicated that vitamin D supplementation could potentially slow down biological aging by preserving telomere length. Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, naturally shorten as individuals age, and this process might contribute to the risk of death and certain diseases.
David Cutler, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, explained that when telomeres become too short, cells either enter a non-dividing state (senescence) or undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). Both conditions are thought to contribute to aging and age-related diseases.
In the study, researchers used data from the VITAL trial, which included a representative sample of adults in the United States who received vitamin D3 supplements, omega-3 fatty acid supplements, or both for approximately five years. The researchers examined telomere length in the participants' white blood cells and found that vitamin D supplementation helped minimize telomere shortening, which could potentially slow down biological aging.
Vitamin D appeared to have a positive impact on telomere length. Among participants who received vitamin D, there was only minimal shortening of telomere length, while there was substantial telomere shortening in the placebo group. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, however, did not seem to have a significant impact on telomere length.
The subgroup analysis further suggested that the effects of vitamin D on telomere length were significant for participants not taking medication for cholesterol but not for participants who were taking cholesterol medication. Vitamin D also minimized telomere shortening at a statistically significant level for non-white participants.
Researchers acknowledge that this analysis has some limitations, such as the fact that most participants were white, and all participants were at least fifty. The study was not originally designed to look at the effects of supplements on leukocyte telomere length, and it excluded participants who did not have data on leukomere telomere length.
Regarding exploratory subgroup analysis results, researchers encourage caution, note limited power, and advise that people look at the data as "hypothesis-generating." Future research can explore why vitamin D may have these effects on telomere length.
Yoshua Quinones, a board-certified internist, noted that this study could have significant implications for preventive medicine if the benefits of vitamin D are confirmed in future studies. Quinones also emphasized the importance of weighing the potential risks of vitamin D supplementation against its potential benefits since vitamin D is fat-soluble and can accumulate in the body, causing toxicity.
- The study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that vitamin D supplementation may potentially slow down biological aging by preserving telomere length.
- Telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, naturally shorten as individuals age, and this process might contribute to the risk of death and certain diseases.
- David Cutler, a family medicine physician, explained that when telomeres become too short, cells may enter a non-dividing state or undergo programmed cell death, conditions linked to aging and age-related diseases.
- In the study, researchers found that vitamin D supplementation minimized telomere shortening, which could potentially slow down biological aging.
- The effects of vitamin D on telomere length were significant for participants not taking medication for cholesterol but not for participants who were taking cholesterol medication, and vitamin D also minimized telomere shortening at a statistically significant level for non-white participants.
- Researchers encourage caution in interpreting the subgroup analysis results, noting limited power and suggesting that future research can explore why vitamin D may have these effects on telomere length.
- Yoshua Quinones, an internist, noted that this study could have significant implications for preventive medicine if the benefits of vitamin D are confirmed in future studies, while emphasizing the importance of weighing the potential risks of vitamin D supplementation against its potential benefits due to its fat-soluble nature and potential for accumulation leading to toxicity.
