Most people are missing this vitamin, and it may help slow aging
Can vitamin D slow the body's aging process? (photo: Magnific)
Vitamin D, long associated with bone health and immunity, may have another unexpected benefit. There is evidence suggesting that it could potentially slow the processes of biological aging, Verywell Health reports.
Can vitamin D slow aging?
Doctor of Medical Sciences Sohaib Imtiaz said that if you have a vitamin D deficiency, it may slow certain aging processes. But if your levels are sufficient, there is no strong evidence that taking additional vitamin D will slow aging.
For example, vitamin D is needed for the production of collagen and elastin. If your levels are insufficient, faster skin aging is possible.
One sign of aging is telomere length. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten.
With age, telomeres become shorter, and more errors and mutations occur in DNA. Keeping telomeres long reduces the likelihood of DNA damage and the effects of aging.
There are certain factors that can accelerate telomere shortening, such as lack of sleep, stress, environmental pollution, eating processed foods, and lack of physical exercise. There are also habits, such as strength training and other exercises, that may slow telomere shortening over time.
What the study showed
In a study published in July on PubMed, scientists tested the white blood cells of more than 900 people in relation to vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation. Half of the participants took 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.
The group that took supplements lost 140 fewer DNA base pairs, which reduces the risk of errors and mutations that can lead to cell dysfunction. People who took vitamin D supplements also had longer telomeres. This is why the idea emerged that vitamin D may slow aging.
Telomere shortening is only one of 12 proposed mechanisms of aging. All potential mechanisms have strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, there is no consensus on what exactly causes the body to age.
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