Leukocyte telomere length as a compensatory mechanism in vitamin D metabolism.

Minenur Kalyoncu,Fehime Benli Aksungar,Deniz Agirbasli,Gabriele Saretzki,Mehmet Agirbasli,Meltem Muftuoglu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264337

Minenur Kalyoncu, Fehime Benli Aksungar + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264337

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Feb 24, 2022
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Kent Hastanesi, Acıbadem Adana Hospital

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is common among postmenopausal women. Telomere length can be a potential protective mechanism for age-related diseases. The objective of our study is to examine the association of vitamin D supplementation on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in healthy postmenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency. The study was designed as a placebo-controlled study to investigate the short-term effects of vitamin D supplementation and seasonal changes on vitamin D related parameters, including 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D parathormone (PTH), Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), vitamin D receptor (VDR), and telomere length in a cohort of postmenopausal women (n = 102). The group was divided as supplementation (n = 52) and placebo groups (n = 50). All parameters were measured before and after treatment. Serum VDBP levels were measured by ELISA method and VDR, GC (VDBP) gene expressions and relative telomere lengths were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using a quantitative real-time PCR method. The results demonstrate that baseline levels were similar between the groups. After vitamin D supplementation 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, PTH and VDBP levels were changed significantly compared to the placebo group. At the end of the study period, LTL levels were significantly increased in both groups and this change was more prominent in placebo group. The change in GC expression was significant between treatment and placebo groups but VDR expression remained unchanged. Even though the study was designed to solely assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation, LTL was significantly increased in the whole study group in summer months suggesting that LTL levels are affected by sun exposure and seasonal changes rather than supplementation. The study displayed the short-term effect of Vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D, PTH levels, LTL and vitamin D associated gene expressions. The relation between Vitamin D and LTL is not linear and could be confounded by several factors such as the population differences, regional and seasonal changes in sun exposure.

Highlights

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone synthesized in the skin via sunlight
The objective of our study is to examine the association of vitamin D supplementation on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in healthy postmenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency
The interaction appears more complex than a linear relationship possibly attributable to persistent vitamin D deficiency, and other confounding factors

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone synthesized in the skin via sunlight. It plays an important role in biological systems including mineralization of bones, stabilization of blood calcium levels, modulating the innate and adaptive immune responses, and nerve conduction. Obesity and vitamin D deficiency in women are important public health problems [2, 3]. Vitamin D deficiency can be seen at any age and is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women due to the decrease in estrogen levels [4]. Insufficient exposure to sunlight, obesity, diet, and hyperlipidemia are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Among the elderly population, 61% in the United States, 90% in Turkey, 96% in India, 72% in Pakistan, and 67% in Iran are vitamin D deficient [5]

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