Multivitamins May Affect Biological Age

SALT LAKE CITY—–Results from a recent study found multivitamin use is associated with longer telomere length, which may be a marker of biological age, among women (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009) (DOI:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26986). Cross-sectional analysis of data from 586 early participants (aged 35 to 74 years) in the Sister Study was performed. 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.

After age and other potential confounders were adjusted for, multivitamin use was associated with longer telomeres. Compared with nonusers, the relative telomere length of leukocyte DNA was on average 5.1 percent longer among daily multivitamin users. 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.