Overview
- The VITAL trial, involving over 1,000 adults aged 50 and older, demonstrated that daily vitamin D supplementation significantly slowed telomere shortening over four years.
- Participants taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily experienced cellular aging equivalent to just one year, compared to nearly four years in the placebo group.
- Telomeres, protective DNA caps linked to aging and diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, were preserved, marking a potential strategy to counter biological aging.
- The parent VITAL study of 26,000 participants also linked vitamin D to reduced inflammation and lower risks of advanced cancers and autoimmune diseases.
- Experts caution against excessive dosing due to potential toxicity and recommend vitamin D supplements primarily for high-risk groups, such as the elderly or those with limited sun exposure.