Studies on the relationship between Telomeres Length and nutrition.
- Mediterranean Diet:
- In this study conducted in 2019, the effect of herbal foods and herbal-rich diet on telomere length was examined.
- Firstly, studies on the “Mediterranean Diet”, which is a herbal-rich nutritional model, seed consumption (predominantly hazelnuts, grains) and carotenoid intake, have been examined.
- Secondly; studies evaluating the effect of herbal-rich diet model and herbal-rich nutritional status on telomere length were examined. “Mediterranean diet; it is a diet model characterized by high consumption of grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits, relatively high consumption of olive oil, moderate fish consumption, moderate poultry consumption, low consumption of red meat and its derivatives, and generally moderate consumption of red wine. Considering that the “Mediterranean Diet” is a diet rich in herbal and antioxidants, it has been focused on whether those who follow the Mediterranean Diet protect against telomere wear for a long time. The first study based on this hypothesis was realized by Trichopoulou et al. for an average sample of 217 Italians of 78 years in which 74% of them were women. Consequently, when the compliance with the Mediterranean Diet was evaluated by creating the Med Diet score, which was observed that the participants with high Med Diet score had high telomere lengths compared to the participants with lower Med Diet scores. In another study, it was concluded that plant-based nutritional components such as vitamin C, vitamin E, Folate, Polyphenols and turmeric would prevent telomere wear.
- Western Style Nutrition Model:
- According to the study done for the mode of nutrition conducted by Lee et al. which was characterized by high intake of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, seafood and seaweed) applied to middle-aged and high-aged Korean adults who follow a 'Western-style' diet (high consumption of refined grains, refined sugar, processed meat, sugary sodas). It has been reported to those people with this western-style of diet have a shorter telomere length compared to Koreans who follow a diet model.
- In another study, Chinese women who adhere to a plant-rich diet pattern were significantly more likely than Chinese women who followed the traditional model, which included mostly animal foods, alcohol, rice, red meat, pickled vegetables, sugary drinks, fries, called `` macho '' were observed with long telomeres. In a similar study, it was reported that telomere length was negatively affected as a result of applying the "Western Style" diet of 300 healthy people aged 25-40. As a result, when the relationship between dietary patterns was evaluated, populations following the Mediterranean Diet were found to be associated with longer telomere length compared to populations applying other models.
- NHANES cohort study:
- The abundance of "Guanine" in telomeric DNA repeats (5-TTAGGG-3) makes telomeres suitable for oxidative damage. This has made us wonder whether adding antioxidant-rich foods into the diet will help telomere length. Seeds are foods rich in antioxidants. The nut layer is enriched in compounds that prevent the oxidation of plant DNA and ensure the longevity of the seed. In a 1958 study in Korean individuals, higher nut and legume consumption resulted in longer telomere length. In addition, in the NHANES cohort study, which included 5582 participants, it was found that the consumption of nuts and other seeds was positively associated with telomere length. However, the relationship between grains and telomere length is not strong. This is explained by the lack of fiber and antioxidants that the grain loses during refining. Carotenoids from green leafy vegetables and fruits are phytochemicals known for their powerful antioxidant properties. Higher concentrations of carotenoids in plasma (lutein and zeaxanthin) of 786 elderly Australian participants have been associated with longer telomere length. In a subset of 3660 participants from the NHANES cohort, a significant association was observed between telomere length and the sum of α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin: higher blood carotenoid concentrations were associated with longer telomeres.
- What is the standard model of nutrition should be taken for slow down aging?
- Considering that there is a directly proportional relation between oxidative stress and telomer wear, it would be correct to say that a diet rich in plant foods, especially the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, will help the prevention of telomere wear. It should be kept in mind that telomere length is not only related to a diet rich in herbal and antioxidants, but also to the formation of age-related diseases and premature aging.
- References
- Crous-Bou et al. Plant-Rich Dietary Patterns, Plant Foods and Nutrients, and Telomere Length. Adv Nutr 2019; 10: S296 - S303.
Dyt. İpek CANYAKANLAR
Nutrition and Diet