Multivitamins may help women live longer by preventing parts of their DNA from shortening, a new study has found.
Telomeres, or the end portion of chromosomes, protect chromosomes from damage. Because telomeres shorten slightly when cells divide, researchers speculated that preventing this shortening could protect new cells and thus reduce the effects of aging.
This corresponds to about 9.8 years less age-related telomere shortening, the researchers noted. Vitamins C and E from diet also were associated with longer telomeres. But, whether the vitamins preserved telomere length or actually lengthened life is not clear.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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