This is the vitamin that helps you stay healthy into old age

Vitamin D supplements may help slow the aging process by protecting the structures in our chromosomes. A new study suggests that the well-known “sunshine vitamin” may play an important role in maintaining good health as we age. Scientists have found that taking a daily dose of vitamin D helps preserve telomeres, the little protective caps on our DNA that protect cells as they divide, reports The Independent.

Telomeres are found at the ends of each of our 46 chromosomes. Their role is to protect DNA during each cell division. As we age, telomeres naturally shorten, and when they become too short, cells can no longer divide and gradually die. Shortened telomeres are linked to a number of diseases of aging, including cancer, heart disease, and osteoarthritis.

They are negatively affected by factors such as smoking, chronic stress, and depression, and are further damaged by inflammatory processes in the body.

New study offers hope

In a study conducted at Augusta University in the US, scientists followed 1,031 people with an average age of 65 for five years. Half of the participants took 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily, while the other half took a placebo. The length of their telomeres was measured at the start of the study, after two and four years, writes Index.hr, reports Klankosova.tv.

The results showed that telomeres in the group taking vitamin D were preserved by an average of 140 base pairs more compared to the placebo group. Since telomeres shorten by about 460 base pairs over ten years with natural aging, this result is considered significant.

This is not the first study to suggest the benefits of vitamin D for telomeres. Similar effects have been shown by the Mediterranean diet, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

More than healthy bones

Vitamin D is best known for its role in bone health because it helps absorb calcium. However, it also supports the immune system. Previous research has shown that vitamin D may reduce the frequency of respiratory infections, especially in people who are deficient in vitamin D. There have also been indications that it may help prevent certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, although more research is needed.