Research Roundup: Telomeres and D3 | 40Hz for Alzheimer's | GLP-1 RA for longevity

2 interesting long-term, clinical trials with straightforward outcomes for healthspan

Study#1 : Vitamin D₃ and marine ω-3 fatty acids supplementation and leukocyte telomere length: 4-year findings from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) randomized controlled trial

Omega-3s (e.g. fish oil) and vitamin D have long been recommended for health, but there have been few large randomized clinical trials looking at their effects on longevity parameters.

This clinical trial looks at whether vitamin D or omega-3 supplements could reduce the shortening of telomeres. Telomeres are the end caps on DNA that get shorter as cells replicate and as we age. Short telomere length is associated with a lot of negative health effects in aging, so an intervention that can prevent the shortening would theoretically be pro-longevity.

The trial involved over a thousand participants followed for 4 years. Participants were randomized to take vitamin D3 (2,000 IU/day), marine oil omega-3s (1 g/day), or placebo.

The results showed that the 1g/day of marine oil omega-3s had no effect on telomere length over 4 years. However, the vitamin D3 group had (statistically) significantly less telomere attrition after four years.

My takeaway: This is just one more way that vitamin D3 is important in overall health and longevity. If you’re looking at supplementing with vitamin D3, be sure to check the label to see what type of oil is included. Some of the low-cost supplements contain cottonseed oil or soybean oil, which I normally try to avoid. Personally, I’m taking the Sports Research brand this winter, since it is in coconut oil. (Note that it’s more than the 2,000 IU/day that was used in the study, but I don’t take it every day.)