A Multivitamin Mixture Protects against Oxidative Stress-Mediated Telomere Shortening

J Diet Suppl. 2024;21(1):53-70. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2023.2179153. Epub 2023 Feb 27.

Abstract

Telomeres are nucleotide repeat sequences located at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation and maintain chromosomal stability. Telomeres shorten with each cell division; hence telomere length is associated with aging and longevity. Numerous lifestyle factors have been identified that impact the rate of telomere shortening; high vitamin consumption has been associated with longer telomere length, whereas oxidative stress is associated with telomere shortening. In this paper, we sought to determine if a multivitamin mixture containing both vitamins and a blend of polyphenolic compounds, could reduce telomere shortening consequent to an oxidative stress (10 uM H2O2 for 8 weeks) in a primary fibroblast cell culture model. Under conditions of oxidative stress, the median and 20th percentile telomere length were significantly greater (p < 0.05), and the percentage of critically short telomeres (<3000 bp) was significantly less (p < 0.05) in cells treated with the multivitamin mixture at 4, 15 and 60 ug/ml compared to control (0 ug/ml). Median and 20th percentile telomere shortening rate was also reduced under the same conditions (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the multivitamin mixture protects against oxidative stress-mediated telomere shortening in cell culture, findings which may have implications in human health.

Keywords: Multivitamin mixture; oxidative stress; telomere; vitamins.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Telomere Shortening*
  • Vitamins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Vitamins