Vitamin D₃ promotes longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is linked to age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration.
• Vitamin D plays a role in extraskeletal processes, leading to its consideration as a longevity vitamin.
• The precise role of vitamin D in healthy aging remains challenging to ascertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of vitamin D on aging and age-related diseases.
• To measure lifespan and health span in response to vitamin D treatment.
• To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin D's effects on aging.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) across three genetic strains (wildtype N2, nhr-8 mutant, and gnals2 Alzheimer's model).
• Administered vitamin D3 and measured lifespan and health span (motility).
• Performed bioinformatic analysis to determine the transcriptional response to vitamin D3 treatment.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D3 significantly extended lifespan in wildtype N2 worms and rescued the lifespan of nhr-8 mutant worms.
• Vitamin D3 treatment minimally extended lifespan in gnals2 worms.
• Health span, measured by motility, showed similar improvements. Gene expression analysis revealed vitamin D3 upregulated genes involved in innate immunity and xenobiotic metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D3 demonstrates a significant positive impact on lifespan and health span in C. elegans.
• The observed benefits are potentially mediated by enhanced innate immune response and metabolic pathways.
• These findings support vitamin D's potential role in promoting healthy aging.