At the ends of our chromosomes are structures called telomeres. They act as a form of protection for the chromosomes and help prevent their ends from becoming damaged.
Telomeres naturally become shorter with age. According to Mass General Brigham, shorter telomeres are also associated with a higher risk of several diseases that typically develop later in life, The Harvard Gazette reports.
Previous smaller studies have examined whether dietary supplements can affect telomeres. However, the results have been inconclusive.
Followed for several years
The new study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is part of the large US VITAL trial. Among other things, researchers investigated the effects of vitamin D3 and omega-3.
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A substudy included 1,054 people whose telomere lengths were measured at the start of the trial and again after two and four years, according to The Harvard Gazette.
Participants in VITAL received, among other interventions, either 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, omega-3 or a placebo. The trial was both randomised and placebo-controlled.
Difference after four years
According to the study, omega-3 had no clear effect on participants’ telomeres.
The results were different for vitamin D3. After four years, people who received vitamin D3 experienced significantly less telomere shortening than those who received a placebo.
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According to the researchers, the difference was equivalent to nearly three years of age-related telomere shortening. The study therefore suggests that vitamin D may potentially slow part of the body’s biological ageing process.
However, the researchers emphasise that further research is needed.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.