A new study provides the first convincing evidence that the sunshine vitamin can indeed slow biological aging at the cellular level.
The large-scale, multi-year VITAL study, conducted by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General Brigham and Women’s College of Georgia), included almost 26,000 participants: men over 50 and women over 55. Their goal was to study the effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on a number of health biomarkers.
One of the most interesting sections of the project is the VITAL Telomere sub-study, which involved 1,054 people. It was in this study that scientists focused on assessing the length of telomeres – regions at the ends of chromosomes that protect genetic material from destruction.
The fact is that with each cell division, telomeres become slightly shorter, and this process is inextricably linked to the deterioration of stem cell function, organ aging, and the development of age-related diseases.
Shortened telomeres are thought to contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases.
The results are encouraging: after two and four years of follow-up, participants who took 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily had significantly longer telomeres in their white blood cells than those who took a placebo. Omega-3 fatty acids, however, did not show an effect on telomere length.
Previous attempts to establish a link between telomere length and vitamin D have been limited to short, small-scale experiments, the results of which have been contradictory.
To some, these three years may seem like an insignificant period, but in the context of the increasing risk of chronic diseases with age, even such a modest figure becomes significant. VITAL is the first large, long-term randomized trial to demonstrate that vitamin D supplementation truly protects telomeres and preserves their length.
We have also seen the benefits of vitamin D in reducing inflammation and the risk of specific chronic diseases associated with aging, says Dr. Joan Manson. Numerous scientific studies have shown that vitamin D, especially its forms D3 and D2, play an important role in the immune system and calcium absorption.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to dementia and neurological disorders, both in adults and newborns. A dose of 2,000 IU per day is safe for most people, but it is recommended to consult a doctor before starting supplementation to rule out possible contraindications and to choose an individually appropriate regimen.
Vitamin D can be found in two forms in pharmaceutical products, which are absorbed equally well, but due to differences in metabolism, vitamin D3 is considered more effective.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound. To ensure its good absorption, it is recommended to take it with fatty foods: for example, fish, scrambled eggs, avocado or cheese.
It can also be drunk after a meal consisting of fatty foods. But it should not be taken before a meal, because its absorption will not be effective.
You should not take vitamin D together with vitamins A and E – they can neutralize each other’s action and disrupt absorption. If you need to take several medications at the same time, it is better to take vitamin D in the morning or in the first half of the day.
You can take the remaining medications in the evening. If you drink it before going to bed, the sunshine vitamin can cause insomnia. Another reason is the metabolic processes in the body, which are more active in the morning and proceed faster, so the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher.
Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sun-301599/
