Modulation of telomere length by mediterranean diet

Identifier:  imarina:9230390

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9230390

Authors:  Fernandez de la Puente, Maria; Hernandez-Alonso, Pablo; Canudas, Silvia; Marti, Amelia; Fito, Montserrat; Razquin, Cristina; Salas-Salvado, Jordi

Abstract:
Telomere length (TL) has been associated with aging and is determined by lifestyle. How-ever, the mechanisms by which a dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) affects TL homeostasis are still unknown. Our aim was to analyse the effect of an energy-restricted MedDiet with physical activity promotion (intervention group) versus an unrestricted-caloric MedDiet with no weight-loss advice (control group) on TL and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) plasma levels. In total, 80 non-diabetic participants with metabolic syndrome were randomly selected from the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea)-Plus-Reus study. TL was measured by a hybridi-sation method and 8-OHdG levels by ELISA at baseline and after one year of intervention. Linear mixed models (LMM)—raw and after adjusting for potential confounders—were used to examine the associations between TL or 8-OHdG plasma levels by intervention group and/or time. A total of 69 subjects with available DNA samples were included in the analyses. A significant β-coefficient was found for time towards increasing values through the year of follow-up for TL (unadjusted β of 0.740 (95% CI: 0.529 to 0.951), and multivariable model β of 0.700 (95% CI: 0.477 to 0.922)). No significant βs were found, neither for the intervention group nor for the interaction between the intervention group and time. Regarding 8-OHdG plasma levels, no significant βs were found for the intervention group, time, and its interaction. Our results suggest that MedDiet could have an impor-tant role in preventing telomere shortening, but calorie restriction and exercise promotion did not provide an additional advantage concerning telomere length after one year of MedDiet intervention.