Can vitamin D slow down aging?

A simple pill that will slow down the aging of our body? A new study conducted by Italian scientists summarizes the available evidence on the role of vitamin D in the fight against age-related changes.

Vitamin D promotes absorption calciumcalcium. Therefore, people suffering from osteoporosis are advised to take supplements of this vitamin to prevent bone fractures, since calcium deficiency is associated with these conditions. However, clinical trials have shown that vitamin D supplements do not always help prevent fractures and age-related bone loss in healthy people.

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Published in the magazine Nutrients, an Italian study sought to understand the benefits of this vitamin as a strategy for maintaining human longevity. We must already ask ourselves what aging is, especially at the biological level. ” The characteristics of aging are a collection of finely regulated and highly interconnected biological mechanisms. “” the authors write in their study. They lead to many cellular changes such as telomere shortening, GenoaGenoa unstable molecular traces on our DNADNA and chronic inflammation. What might be the role of vitamin D in limiting these biological changes?

No clear conclusion about life extension

Some studies show that people with low levels of vitamin D are biologically older than people with normal levels, suggesting that the vitamin may slow epigenetic aging. According to another study, it may also help reduce DNA damage.

Remember that taking high doses of vitamin D can be harmful to the body. Vitamin D supplements may also interact with medications such as statinsstatins (which reduce blood cholesterol levels). The authors conclude that taking vitamin D supplements is not necessarily beneficial to health, despite interest in human longevity research.