Higher serum vitamin D concentrations are associated with longer leukocyte telomere length in women

TY - JOUR

T1 - Higher serum vitamin D concentrations are associated with longer leukocyte telomere length in women

AU - Richards, J B

AU - Valdes, A M

AU - Gardner, J P

AU - Paximadas, D

AU - Kimura, M

AU - Nessa, A

AU - Lu, X B

AU - Surdulescu, G L

AU - Sivaminathan, R

AU - Spector, T D

AU - Aviv, A

PY - 2007/11/1

Y1 - 2007/11/1

N2 - Background: Vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of the proinflammatory response and thereby diminishes turnover of leukocytes. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a predictor of aging-related disease and decreases with each cell cycle and increased inflammation. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether vitamin D concentrations would attenuate the rate of telomere attrition in leukocytes, such that higher vitamin D concentrations would be associated with longer LTL. Design: Serum vitamin D concentrations were measured in 2160 women aged 18-79 y (mean age: 49.4) from a large population-based cohort of twins. LTL was measured by using the Southern blot method. Results: Age was negatively correlated with LTL (r = -0.40, P <0.0001). Serum vitamin D concentrations were positively associated with LTL (r = 0.07: P = 0.00 10), and this relation persisted after adjustment for age (r = 0.09, P <0.000 1) and other covariates (age, season of vitamin D measurement, menopausal status, use of hormone replacement therapy, and physical activity; P for trend across tertiles = 0.003). The difference in LTL between the highest and lowest tertiles of vitamin D was 107 base pairs (P = 0.0009), which is equivalent to 5.0 y of telomeric aging. This difference was further accentuated by increased concentrations of C-reactive protein, which is a measure of systemic inflammation. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that higher vitamin D concentrations, which are easily modifiable through nutritional supplementation. are associated with longer LTL, which underscores the potentially beneficial effects of this hormone on aging and age-related diseases

AB - Background: Vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of the proinflammatory response and thereby diminishes turnover of leukocytes. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a predictor of aging-related disease and decreases with each cell cycle and increased inflammation. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether vitamin D concentrations would attenuate the rate of telomere attrition in leukocytes, such that higher vitamin D concentrations would be associated with longer LTL. Design: Serum vitamin D concentrations were measured in 2160 women aged 18-79 y (mean age: 49.4) from a large population-based cohort of twins. LTL was measured by using the Southern blot method. Results: Age was negatively correlated with LTL (r = -0.40, P <0.0001). Serum vitamin D concentrations were positively associated with LTL (r = 0.07: P = 0.00 10), and this relation persisted after adjustment for age (r = 0.09, P <0.000 1) and other covariates (age, season of vitamin D measurement, menopausal status, use of hormone replacement therapy, and physical activity; P for trend across tertiles = 0.003). The difference in LTL between the highest and lowest tertiles of vitamin D was 107 base pairs (P = 0.0009), which is equivalent to 5.0 y of telomeric aging. This difference was further accentuated by increased concentrations of C-reactive protein, which is a measure of systemic inflammation. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that higher vitamin D concentrations, which are easily modifiable through nutritional supplementation. are associated with longer LTL, which underscores the potentially beneficial effects of this hormone on aging and age-related diseases

M3 - Article

SN - 1938-3207

VL - 86

SP - 1420

EP - 1425

JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

IS - 5

ER -