An essential component of healthy aging is the presence of telomeres, which are the protective caps that are located at the ends of chromosomes. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D may slow down the age-related shortening of telomeres, according to one research study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
This trial involved a diverse group of adults from the United States who took vitamin D3 supplements, omega-3 fatty acid supplements, or a combination of both for about five years. In this study, they used a double-blind, placebo-controlled approach, meaning some folks got the actual supplements while others got a placebo instead. Every female participant was at least fifty-five years old, while every male participant was at least fifty. Vitamin D recipients had modest telomere length reduction at two and four years. The placebo group had significant telomere shortening at both time points.
Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan who was not involved in the study, said, “If this is confirmed in future studies, this could mean that daily vitamin D supplements could actually help reduce risks for age-related diseases. This is a door for new medical guidelines in the future and will be a huge deal for preventive medicine.” Read the article.
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