The vitamin D group also had fewer autoimmune diseases and reduced inflammation markers.
Lead study author JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the findings “suggest a promising role for vitamin D in slowing a pathway for biological aging and age-related chronic disease.”
While the researchers were surprised that vitamin D was linked to such substantial protection against telomere shortening, Manson told Fox News Digital, the findings are consistent with previous evidence.
“Vitamin D tamps down inflammation, a major cause of telomere shortening and chronic diseases of aging,” she said.
