Telomeres are structures on chromosomes that protect against chromosomal fusion during mitotic division. However, through normal division the telomere undergoes erosion which may ultimately trigger programmed cell death. Although the telomeres naturally shorten with age, but this process is though to be accelerated by both oxidative stress and inflammation. Because nutrition is known to be able to influence systemic inflammation and the level of cellular oxidative stress in vivo, it is thought that improving the quality of the diet may retard the inevitable telomere shortening. Research suggests that leukocyte telomere length may serve as a potential biomarker for biological age, by reflecting cumulative damage from oxidation and inflammation. Further, the accelerated shortening of the telomere may correlate with the development of a number of lifestyle diseases such as various cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Researchers1 have investigated the effects of diet, lifestyle and body composition on leukocyte telomere length in women. The length of the leukocyte telomere of 2284 healthy women from the Nurses’ Health Study was measured via polymerase chain reaction and the diet and lifestyle assessed by questionnaire. The results showed that dietary fibre was positively associated with telomere length, with cereal fibre having the strongest association. The essential fatty acid linoleic acid was also positively associated with telomere length, but total fat showed no association. Interestingly, there was an association between telomere length and waist circumference, but not physical activity. No association was found between smoking and telomere length, which is surprising as smoking is known to increase both oxidative stress and inflammation. These results provide more evidence that dietary fibre may be protective of a number of disease and may influence telomere length in women.
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