Healthy Aging

Aging is an inevitable process in human and telomere (ie: specialized structures at the end of the chromosomes to protect the loss of human’s genetic data during cell division) plays important part in regulating ageing process. The length of telomere shortens with age and the progressive shortening of telomeres may affect the health and quality of life of an individual negatively with increased risks of disease development and poor survival rate [1].

Nonetheless, healthier dietary intake with high consumption of fruits and vegetables and balanced lifestyle can help to slow down the ageing process. In fact, dietary carotenoids have shown beneficial effects in relation to ageing associated adverse health effects as demonstrated in the studies below:

Study Significant Findings Reference
Increases Telomere Length
Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults

Plasma blood level of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin were significantly associated with longer telomeres.

When comparing to the lowest carotenoid (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) quartiles, the telomere length increased from 5-8% in the highest carotenoid quartiles cohort

 Min, KB. & Min JY. (2016). Eur J Nutr.
Attenuates Risks of Mortality from Chronic Diseases
Low Serum Selenium and Total Carotenoids Predict Mortality among Older Women Living in the Community Higher serum selenium and total carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin) are associated with a lower risk of mortality from heart disease, cancer, stroke, infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Ray, A.L, et.al (2006). American Society for Nutrition

Reference:

  1. Van Steensel B, Smogorzewska A, de Lange T. TRF2 protects human telomeres from end-to-end fusions. Cell. 1998;92:401–413. 
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS – HEALTHY AGING
1. Min & Min (2017). Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults. Eur J Nutr; 56(3):1045-1052.
2. Ray, A.L, et.al (2006). Low Serum Selenium and Total Carotenoids Predict Mortality among Older Women Living in the Community. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1):172-6.
3. Kim, J.H., et.al (2017). Association of serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol concentrations with the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Nutr Res Pract; 11(2):114-120. doi:10.4162/nrp.2017.11.2.114.
4. Stuetz, W., et.al (2016). Plasma carotenoids, tocopherols, and retinol in the age-stratified (35-74 years) general population: A cross-sectional study in six european countries. Nutrients; 8(10).
5. Feart, C., et.al (2016). Plasma carotenoids are inversely associated with dementia risk in an elderly French cohort. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci:683-8.doi:10.1093/Gerona.glv135.
6. Maggio, M., et.al (2015). Relationship between carotenoids, retinol, and estradiol levels in older women. Nutrients; 6506-19. doi:10.339/nu7085296.
7. Kesse-Guyot E., et.al (2014). Carotenoid-rich dietary patterns during midlife and subsequent cognitive function. Br J Nutr. 111(5):915-23. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513003188. 
8. Akbaraly, N.T., et.al (2007). Plasma carotenoid levels and cognitive performance in an elderly population: results of the EVA Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci; 62(3):308-16.
9. Walston, J., et.al (2006). Serum antioxidants, inflammation, and total mortality in older women. Am J Epidemiol; 163(1):18-26.
10. Hak, A.E., et.al (2004). Prospective study of plasma carotenoids and tocopherols in relation to risk of ischemic stroke. Stroke; 35(7):1584-8.
11. Craft, N.E., et.al (2004). Carotenoid, tocopherol, and retinol concentrations in elderly human brain. J Nutr Health Aging; 8(3):156-62.
12. Yeum, K.J., et.al (1998). Plasma carotenoid concentrations are inversely correlated with fat mass in older women. J Nutr Health Aging; 2(2):79-83.
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Von Amim C.A., et.al (2013). Micronutrients supplementation and nutritional status in cognitively impaired elderly persons: a two-month open label pilot study. Nutr J; 12(1):148. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-12-148.