An international team of specialists from Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia has discovered through a large-scale study that regular intake of vitamin D helps slow down the processes of biological aging. The main mechanism behind this phenomenon is its link to preserving telomere length. These protective “caps” at the ends of chromosomes safeguard DNA from damage. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that serve to protect chromosomes. With each cell division, they shorten. The rate of this process directly correlates with biological age and is also associated with the risk of age-related diseases, including heart conditions and cancer.

The study involved 1,054 participants aged 50 and older. Over a period of five years, three groups of volunteers were monitored. The first group received 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, the second group was given omega-3, and the third received a placebo. Telomere length was measured several times during the study.

The results impressed the experts. Among participants taking vitamin D, the shortening of telomeres occurred significantly more slowly than in the placebo group. This was accompanied by a delay in biological aging of nearly three years. It was noted that omega-3 had no similar effect on telomeres.

The authors of the study also point out that vitamin D exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce the risks of certain chronic age-related diseases.