Potential anti-ageing effects of a common vitamin supplement, according to new research findings
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Taking a daily dose of Vitamin D may help combat the aging process, according to a recent study.
This study suggests that four years of Vitamin D supplementation can prevent around three years of aging. Previous research has indicated that these supplements might help combat some of the most significant signs of aging, which are linked to several age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
To test this theory, researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia analyzed the results of a previous trial. This experiment recruited thousands of women aged 55 or older and men aged 50 or older, who were given either Vitamin D, Omega 3, or a placebo for the next five years.
The current study focused on 1054 participants who underwent special tests at the beginning of the trial, at Year 2 and Year 4. These tests measured the length of their telomeres. Telomeres are DNA sequences that cap chromosomes, acting as plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces, preventing chromosomes from fraying or sticking together, thus maintaining the stability of genetic information during cell division.
Each time a cell divides, telomeres get a little shorter. When they become too short, they lose their ability to divide, causing cells to become inactive and potentially contributing to more inflammation in our body.
The study found that participants who took Vitamin D experienced considerably less telomere shortening, effectively preventing almost three years of aging. This finding could provide valuable insights into keeping people healthy for a longer duration, as telomere shortening is linked to numerous age-related diseases.
As Morten Schiebye-Knudsen, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, explains, "Telomere shortening may contribute to more 'angry old cells' and therefore more inflammation in our body, particularly in cells that divide a lot, like our bone marrow, skin, and hair."
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Morten Schiebye-Knudsen is an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
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Vitamin D supplementation appears to slow telomere shortening, which could potentially slow biological aging by up to three years. This could help reduce the risk of age-related diseases, including dementia, though further research is necessary to confirm its role in dementia prevention.
- The current study indicates that Vitamin D supplementation could potentially slow biological aging by up to three years, which could help reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
- The study suggests that four years of Vitamin D supplementation may prevent around three years of aging, as telomere shortening, linked to numerous age-related diseases, was found to be considerably less in participants who took Vitamin D.
- The research conducted by Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia focused on the effects of Vitamin D supplements on cell division, with telomeres, DNA sequences that prevent chromosomes from fraying during cell division, being a key area of interest.
- The finding that telomere shortening, a significant factor in the aging process, is effectively prevented by Vitamin D supplementation could provide valuable insights into health-and-wellness, nutrition, and aging, as well as the prevention of age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
- The theory that Vitamin D supplementation might combat some of the most significant signs of aging, linked to age-related diseases, was further supported by this study, which highlighted the role of science, research, and medicine in the field of health-and-wellness and nutrition.
