We learned this from KurzweilAI.net, Mar. 19, 2009
Multivitamin use is positively associated with telomere length in women, a National Institutes of Health study has found. Telomere length may be a marker of biological aging.
A telomere is a DNA region at the end of a chromosome that protects the end from destruction. Longer length has been positively correlated with longevity. In this study, the relative telomere length of leukocyte DNA was on average 5.1% longer among daily multivitamin users, compared to nonusers.
Multivitamin supplements represent a major source of micronutrients, which may affect telomere length by modulating oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. In the analysis of micronutrients, higher intakes of vitamins C and E from foods were each associated with longer telomeres, even after adjustment for multivitamin use. Furthermore, intakes of both nutrients were associated with telomere length among women who did not take multivitamins.
NOTE FROM SNOETY: Vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources of vitamin E; Vitamin C foods include: citrus fruits, like oranges; cantaloupe; strawberries; cherries, plums, tomatoes; broccoli; cabbage; kiwi fruit; sweet red peppers, …
Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (March 11, 2009), doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26986
