Vitamin D Supplements Linked to Longer Telomeres, Study Finds

⁣ Updated May 29, 2025
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Vitamin D supplementation may play a role in maintaining telomere length, according to a new‍ randomized controlled trial.Telomeres, protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, naturally shorten with age and are associated with age-related diseases.

The VITAL⁤ study, a large-scale, long-term trial, suggests that vitamin D ‍supplements could protect telomeres. JoAnn Manson,⁤ MD, principal investigator of VITAL ⁤and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at ‍brigham and Women’s Hospital, noted the ⁢findings ‍are of interest because VITAL previously demonstrated vitamin D’s benefits in reducing inflammation and risks of chronic diseases.

Telomere shortening is a natural part of aging, increasing the⁣ risk of age-related diseases. The VITAL Telomere sub-study included 1,054 participants, tracking telomere length over four years.

The research indicated that vitamin D3 supplements considerably reduced telomere shortening compared⁣ to a placebo, effectively preventing nearly three years of aging. Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation‍ showed no notable⁢ impact on telomere length.

‍ “Our findings suggest⁤ that targeted vitamin D supplementation may be a promising strategy to counter a biological aging process, although further research is warranted,” said Haidong Zhu, PhD, first author of the report and a molecular geneticist at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University.
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What’s next

further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the optimal dosage and duration of vitamin D supplementation for ⁣telomere maintenance and⁢ overall health.