Vitamin D Slows Biological Aging? New 4-Year Study on Telomeres! Ep. 1244 JUN 2025

A recent sub-study of the large-scale VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL), published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has revealed significant findings regarding vitamin D and cellular aging. Researchers analyzed leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in 1,054 participants over four years. The results showed that daily supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 significantly reduced telomere shortening compared to a placebo. Specifically, vitamin D3 supplementation decreased LTL attrition by 0.14 kilobase pairs over the four years (p=0.039), an effect described as equivalent to preventing nearly three years of biological aging. This is the first large-scale, long-term randomized trial to show this protective effect on telomeres, which are caps at the ends of chromosomes linked to aging. Interestingly, marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not show a significant effect on telomere length in this sub-study. These findings add to previous VITAL results showing vitamin D's role in reducing inflammation and risks of certain age-related diseases.

Disclaimers:

"This information is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice."

"The study discussed was conducted on U.S. females aged 55 years and older and males aged 50 years and older. Findings may not apply to other populations."

"Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, supplement regimen, or treatment plan, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications. Do not exceed recommended dosages of Vitamin D without medical supervision."

"This channel does not provide medical advice."

#VitaminD #Telomeres #AntiAgingResearch #VITALStudy #CellularHealth

Haidong Zhu, JoAnn E. Manson, Nancy R. Cook, Bayu B. Bekele, Li Chen, Kevin J. Kane, Ying Huang, Wenjun Li, William Christen, I-Min Lee, Yanbin Dong. Vitamin D3 and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation and Leukocyte Telomere Length: 4-Year Findings from the VITAL Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2025; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.003

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