Does vitamin D lengthen telomeres?
Does vitamin D lengthen telomeres?
Vitamin D was not associated with telomere length in cross-sectional analysis combining both sexes, but in boys higher vitamin D was related to longer telomeres. An interquartile increase in vitamin D (9.4 ng/mL) was associated with a 2.5% (95% confidence interval: 0.1 to 4.9%; P = 0.04) increase in telomere length.
Where does telomerase activity occur?
Telomerase is found in fetal tissues, adult germ cells, and also tumor cells. Telomerase activity is regulated during development and has a very low, almost undetectable activity in somatic (body) cells. Because these somatic cells do not regularly use telomerase, they age. The result of aging cells is an aging body.
Where is telomerase most active?
Telomerase is not usually active in most somatic cells (cells of the body), but it’s active in germ cells (the cells that make sperm and eggs) and some adult stem cells.
Which cells show high telomerase activity?
Our findings are consistent with other recent reports demonstrating that telomerase activity is present in highly proliferative normal tissues in vivo including hemopoietic cells (21), the oral mucosa (5), and endometrial tissue from the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle (27).
Can we lengthen telomeres?
A small pilot study shows for the first time that changes in diet, exercise, stress management and social support may result in longer telomeres, the parts of chromosomes that affect aging.
Is telomerase active in stem cells?
In embryonic stem cells, telomerase is activated and maintains telomere length and cellular immortality; however, the level of telomerase activity is low or absent in the majority of stem cells regardless of their proliferative capacity.
Why is telomerase active in germ cells?
Presence of telomerase activity in the male germ cells ensures maintenance of telomere length at maximum levels during spermatogenesis despite telomere attrition due to DNA replication or other genotoxic factors.
Where does telomerase add bases?
The telomerase enzyme attaches to the end of the chromosome; complementary bases to the RNA template are added on the 3′ end of the DNA strand.
What increases telomerase activity?
Vitamin D3 has been shown to increase telomerase activity in overweight Americans. In this 2012 study, vitamin D3 was shown to improve telomere maintenance and prevent cell death and counteract obesity-induced acceleration cellular aging. Astragalus has been found to stimulate telomerase activity.
What is telomerase activity measured based on?
Telomerase activity is measured by evaluating the amount of inorganic pyrophosphate generated in PCR amplification of telomerase elongation product, with use of the sensitive enzymatic luminometric inorganic pyrophosphate detection assay (ELIDA).
