Dietary pattern and telomere length in preschool children in a middle‐income country

Abstract

Telomere length (TL) has been associated with lifestyle and dietary pattern. However, the available evidence on this association in children is scarce, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of dietary pattern and leukocyte TL (LTL) in preschool children, Sabzevar, Iran (2017). This cross-sectional study was based on 187 preschool children (aged 5 to 7) recruited from 27 kindergartens. Nutrition information including amounts of consumed dairy products, meat and processed meat products, nuts and seeds, white bread and refined grains, fruits, vegetables, simple sugars, fats and drinks was obtained through a questionnaire. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plate ID and kindergartens as random effects to estimate the association of each food group consumption with LTL, controlled for relevant covariates. Higher consumption of dairy products and sugar was associated with shorter LTL (β = −0.180, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.276, −0.085, P value <0.001 and β = −0.139, 95% CI: −0.193, −0.086, P value <0.001, respectively). An increase in consumption of fish, nuts and seeds, coloured fruits, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and olive was significantly associated with the increase in relative LTL. The associations for the consumption of legumes, other fruits, yellow and orange vegetables, red meat, egg, white bread and refined grains, solid and liquid fats, processed meats, potato chips, carbonated drinks, tea (black) and soft drinks groups were not statistically significant. Our findings showed that there was an association between the consumption of certain food groups with LTL.

Genetic, Environmental and Lifestyle Determinants of Accelerated Telomere Attrition as Contributors to Risk and Severity of Multiple Sclerosis

“…Current evidence suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean diet, with consumption of vegetables (e.g., tomatoes as a source of antioxidants and vitamins), fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), nuts, seeds and fiber, is associated with longer TL. In contrast, a higher consumption of sugar and dairy products in children and processed meat in adults was associated with shorter TL [195][196][197]. Besides, different strategies for weight loss were reported to delay telomere shortening [198].…”

The Impact of Foods, Nutrients, or Dietary Patterns on Telomere Length in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review

“…Of these, 13 articles were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria: 2 for the study population, 6 for the intervention, 2 for the outcome, 2 for the type of study, and 1 for other reasons. Finally, five articles [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ] were selected for inclusion in this systematic review.…”

“…Regarding dietary intake assessment, two studies evaluated the usual dietary intake using an extensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) [ 29 , 33 ]. Todendi et al examined the consumption of red meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, and fatty foods by adapting several questions from Nahas et al [ 34 ].…”

“…In addition, all the studies reported unclear information about the validity of the dietary intake measures. Two studies [ 29 , 33 ] reported using a validated FFQ, although the instrument was neither adapted nor validated in the study population. The other three studies reported neither the accuracy nor the validity of the measures that they were based on to assess dietary intake.…”

“…The studies included in this systematic review indicated that certain foods, food groups, nutrients, and dietary patterns might be major factors for TL dynamics in childhood and adolescence ( Table 1 ). Regarding foods or food groups, a higher intake of fish (β = 0.208, 95% CI: 0.144, 0.272), nuts and seeds (β = 0.105; 95% CI: 0.041, 0.168), coloured fruits (β = 0.115; 95% CI: 0.047, 0.183), other fruits (β = 0.076; 95% CI: 0.047, 0.183), green leafy vegetables (β = 0.098; 95% CI: 0.037, 0.159), cruciferous vegetables (β = 0.126; 95% CI: 0.067, 0.184), and olives—including olive oil—(β = 0.165, 95% CI: 0.108, 0.224) were associated with a longer LTL in 184 Iranian children aged 5–7 years [ 29 ]. Similarly, Todendi et al showed that the regular intake of fruits and vegetables, compared with no consumption or occasional consumption, may be associated with a longer TL (1.17 vs. 1.06, p < 0.001) in 219 Brazilian children aged 7–9 years and in 762 adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years [ 30 ].…”