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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
12:08
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
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A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Highlights a Link Between Aerobic Fitness and Telomere Maintenance
Clodagh Ryall1, Joshua Denham1,2
1School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia.
Summary
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), is linked to longer telomeres, a marker of biological aging. Regular endurance exercise may help maintain telomere length and promote healthier aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness declines with age, increasing cardiometabolic disease risk.
- Telomere shortening is a recognized indicator of biological aging.
- The relationship between maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and telomere length is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between VO2max and telomere length.
- To investigate if higher cardiorespiratory fitness correlates with longer telomeres.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect.
- Inclusion criteria: human participants with objectively assessed VO2max, quantified telomere length, and peer-reviewed English articles.
- Comparison of telomere length across different VO2max percentiles.
Main Results:
- Individuals with VO2max in the 70th percentile or higher had significantly longer telomeres compared to those with below-average VO2max (SMD: 0.36, p=0.002).
- A similar significant difference was found for individuals above the 90th percentile (SMD: 0.28, p=0.03).
- No significant difference in telomere length was observed between the 70th-90th percentile group and the >90th percentile group.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a link between cardiorespiratory fitness (metabolism) and telomere biology.
- Regular endurance exercise is encouraged to reduce telomere attrition and promote healthy biological aging.
- Moderate endurance training may be sufficient for beneficial effects on telomere length.
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