The study found 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 reduced telomere shortening over four years.
This preservation equated to delaying nearly three years of biological aging.
Omega-3 supplements showed no similar effect on telomere length.
Experts caution more research is needed to confirm long-term health benefits.
Forget expensive creams and complex regimens. A simple, everyday vitamin might be holding a key to slowing down the clock on a cellular level. New research from a major clinical trial suggests that taking a daily vitamin D3 supplement could help preserve the very structures in our cells that are linked to biological aging. This finding offers a compelling, natural avenue for promoting healthier aging, although experts urge a measured look at the results before rushing to the supplement aisle.
The study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analyzed data from the large VITAL randomized controlled trial. It focused on more than 1,000 adults aged 50 and older who were tracked for five years. Participants took either 2,000 international units of vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids, both, or a placebo daily. Researchers measured a critical marker of cellular aging in their white blood cells over four years: telomere length.
Telomeres serve as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces. They shorten each time a cell divides, and when they become too short, cells can no longer divide and begin to age and die. This process is fundamentally linked to aging and age-related diseases. Finding ways to slow telomere shortening is a major goal in longevity science....<<<Read More>>>...
