Multivitamin use and telomere length in women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telomere length may be a marker of biological aging. Multivitamin supplements represent a major source of micronutrients, which may affect telomere length by modulating oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Objective

The objective was to examine whether multivitamin use is associated with longer telomeres in women.

Design

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 586 early participants (age 35-74 y) in the Sister Study. Multivitamin use and nutrient intakes were assessed with a 146-item food-frequency questionnaire, and relative telomere length of leukocyte DNA was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After age and other potential confounders were adjusted for, multivitamin use was associated with longer telomer

SUBMITTER: Xu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2714373 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature