Vascular Aging and Telomere Biology: On the Role of Vitamin D3 Deficiency

AbstractThe impact of vitamin D3 deficiency on the risk and prognosis of numerous chronic diseases has been actively studied for years. Recent research demonstrates that vitamin D is not merely involved in controlling calcium – phosphorus metabolism, but can also enhance insulin sensitivity, and decrease the incidence of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells. The influence of vitamin D3 on some cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is des cribed. Thus, it seems quite relevant to study the role of vitamin D3 in the development of arterial-wall changes in the case of T2DM and insulin resistance (IR) and their relationship with the biology of telomeres. The study is aimed at investigating the relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency a nd vascular-wall condition by the telomere biology in patients with varying insulin sensitivity. The cross-sectional study involves 305 patients (106 men and 199 women) aged 51.5 ± 13.3 SU. All patients undergo laboratory and instrumental tests; the morphofunctional state of the vascular wall is s tudied. The telomere length and telomerase activity are determined using polymerase chain reaction. Altogether 18 out of 248 patients (7.2%) are found to have normal vitamin D3 levels (above 30 ng/mL). Vitamin D3 insufficiency or deficiency is determined in 92.8% of subjects. The increase in the vit amin D3 deficiency is accompanied by an increased level of fasting glu...
Source: Advances in Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research