Vitamin D may slow aging by protecting telomeres .. But caution is a duty

A recent study indicated that vitamin D supplements may help slow the shortages of telomeres, which are the ends of chromosomes that are short with age and are considered signs of cellular aging. The study was published in the Journal of Scientific America, amid scientific reservations about the impact of these results on public health.

The main researcher, Joan Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard University, said that vitamin D supplements previously showed benefits in some cases such as autoimmune diseases and advanced cancer, which could explain its preventive effect against aging diseases. She noted that vitamin reduces infections, which may contribute to protecting cells.

For his part, the first researcher in the study, Hydeong Zhou of the University of Augusta Medical College, explained that vitamin D showed the ability to slow the telomeres minors during a period of four years. But some experts, such as Mary Armanius of Johns Hopkins University, have warned that changes were within the normal rate and did not necessarily mean a big health difference.

Another study in Britain also indicated that the very high levels of vitamin D may be linked to shorter telomeres, which shows that excessive intake of supplements may be harmful.

Manson concluded that the recommendation of eating vitamin D should not be comprehensive, but rather is directed only to certain groups at risk of premature aging or related diseases, while researchers continue to analyze additional data for a deeper understanding of the effect of vitamin on cell aging.