The Relationship Between Vitamin D and Telomere/Telomerase: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Nutritional Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Telomeres protect chromosome ends and maintain genomic stability.
• Telomere length is influenced by proteins, telomerase, and DNA replication.
• Micronutrients like vitamin D are increasingly implicated in telomere biology and aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between vitamin D and telomere length.
• To explore vitamin D's potential role in telomere biology and genomic stability.

Main Methods:

• The study examined the association between vitamin D concentrations and telomere length.
• Follow-up assessments compared telomere length in vitamin D deficient versus sufficient patients.

Main Results:

• Higher vitamin D concentrations correlate with longer leukocyte telomere length (LTL).
• Vitamin D deficiency is associated with shorter telomeres.
• Vitamin D may counteract telomere shortening via anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation effects.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D sufficiency is linked to longer telomeres, suggesting benefits for aging and age-related diseases.
• Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may help preserve telomere length and prevent cellular aging.
• Vitamin D's role in telomere maintenance warrants further investigation, particularly in conditions like SLE.