User talk:Ciechomskih

Telomeres, Telomerase and Nutrition
The shortening of telomeres is directly linked to a shortened lifespan and increased risk for age-related disease. Telomerase is an enzyme that protects and repairs telomeres as cells divide, thus lengthening the longevity of the cells, and the organism In one study from 2008, middle-aged men changed their lifestyles to chart the improvements to their overall health, age-related disease and telomerase production. These changes included attending a support group, increased physical activity and dietary changes. The men in the study ate a low-fat diet, of primarily vegetables, soy protein and supplements including fish oil, selenium, and vitamins C and E. They also participated in stress management procedures including yoga and meditation. 29-84% of these men had an immense increase in telomerase activity, as well as other health benefits. This improvement was attributed to decreases in LDL cholesterol. In addition to this study, it has been proved that impaired telomerase activity is directly linked to body composition, mass and amount of energy used. Depleted telomerase activity also decreases the size and number of insulin-containing pancreatic islets, which cause many health problems. In this same study, it has been shown that an increase in telomerase improves glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, thus thwarting other health complications, such as diabetes.

In addition to the dietary changes stated above, it is also suggested that correct levels of magnesium can extend the longevity of telomeres. A study was done on cultured human fibroblasts and magnesium-deficiency. This study determined that “shorter telomeres {were found} in cultures maintained in magnesium-deficient” environments. This suggests that a diet rich in magnesium can help maintain telomere longevity.

I took this section from the existing Wikipedia page on Telomeres. I want to rearrange it to be in the nutrition and telomeres section:
Vitamin D may have an effect on peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length. Richards and coworkers examined whether vitamin D concentrations would slow the rate of shortening of leukocyte telomeres. The authors stated that vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of the proinflammatory response and slows the turnover of leukocytes. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) predicts the development of aging-related disease, and the length of these telomeres decreases with each cell division and with increased inflammation. Researchers measured serum vitamin D concentrations in 2160 women, aged 18–79 years (mean age: 49.4), from a large population-based cohort of twins. This study divided the group into thirds, based on vitamin D levels, and found that increased age was significantly associated with shorter LTL (r = -0.40, P < 0.0001). Higher serum vitamin D concentrations were significantly associated with longer LTL (r = 0.07, P = 0.0010) and this finding persisted even after adjustment for age (r = 0.09, P < 0.0001) and other variables that independently could affect LTL (age, season of vitamin D measurement, menopausal status, use of hormone replacement therapy, and physical activity). The difference in LTL between the highest and lowest tertiles of vitamin D was highly significant (P = 0.0009) and the authors stated that this was equivalent to 5.0 years of aging. The authors concluded that higher vitamin D levels, easily modifiable through nutritional supplementation, were associated with longer LTL. This underscores the potentially beneficial effects of vitamin D on aging and age-related diseases.[20] Also, peer reviewed clinical studies indicate a relationship between regular exercise and the minimizing of telomere erosion in both mice and humans, at least in the leukocytes and blood vessel walls .[21]