Multivitamins Linked to Maintaining Younger Biological Age

HEALTHWATCH: New Peer Review Study Shows Multivitamins Linked
to Maintaining Younger 'Biological Age'

Dear Members,

According to a new U.S. research study published in the June 2009 edition of the American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition,

the cells of

multivitamin users may have a younger biological age than cells from non-

supplement users.

A group of researchers led by Dr. Honglei Chen, MD, PhD from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

looked at the length of

'telomeres', the DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that shorten as cells replicate and age.

*A “telomere” is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes which protects the end of the

chromosome from destruction. Its

name is derived from the Greek nouns “telos” (end) and “merοs” (root or part).

Over time and with each replication the telomeres will shorten in length. When the telomeres are totally consumed,

the cells are

subsequently destroyed. Previous studies have also reported that telomeres are highly susceptible to

“oxidative stress.”

*”Oxidative stress” A situation in which the environment within cells becomes highly "oxidized"-that is, comes to

contain reactive,

unstable molecules, particularly those of oxygen. These reactive molecules can attach themselves to proteins and

DNA inside the cell and

cause damage

Dr Chen and his co-workers noted that telomere length may therefore be a marker of biological ageing, and that

multivitamins may

beneficially affect telomere length through their adjustment of oxidative stress and chronic

inflammation. And, according to the research

results published in the new issue of the American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition, the telomeres of daily multivitamin users may be on average

5.1 per cent longer than in non-users.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science Panel, reported that half of the American population

routinely use dietary

supplements. Recent results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed

that 35 per cent of the US adult population

regularly consumes one or more types of multivitamin product.

An abstract of Dr. Chen’s report is available at

Good news for the natural health industry... and the consumers it serves.

All the best,

Rudi C. Loehwing

Managing Director

World Institute of Natural Health Sciences

Page created 5/25/09