Master athletes have longer telomeres than age-matched non-athletes. A systematic review, meta-analysis and discussion of possible mechanisms

Aguiar, Samuel da Silva; Sousa, Caio Victor; Santos, Patrick Anderson; Barbosa, Lucas Pinheiro; Maciel, Larissa Alves; Coelho-Júnior, Hélio José; Motta‐Santos, Daisy; Rosa, Thiago Santos; Degens, Hans; Simões, Herbert Gustavo

doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111212

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Our observation of longer telomeres in master athletes than in non-athletes is consistent with previous studies [14,15,31,32]. In the present study, telomere length was positively associated with SIRT1, something also seen by others [33].…”

Section: Non-athletes (N = 19)supporting

confidence: 93%

Telomere Length, SIRT1, and Insulin in Male Master Athletes: The Path to Healthy Longevity?

et al. 2021

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Lower SIRT1 and insulin resistance are associated with accelerated telomere shortening. This study investigated whether the lifestyle of master athletes can attenuate these age-related changes and thereby slow aging. We compared insulin, SIRT1, and telomere length in highly trained male master athletes (n=52; aged 49.9±7.2 yrs) and age-matched non-athletes (n=19; aged 47.3±8.9 yrs). This is a cross-sectional study, in which all data were collected in one visit. Overnight fasted SIRT1 and insulin levels in whole blood were assessed using commercial kits. Relative telomere length was determined in leukocytes through qPCR analyses. Master athletes had higher SIRT1, lower insulin, and longer telomere length than age-matched non-athletes (p<0.05 for all). Insulin was inversely associated with SIRT1 (r=−0.38; p=0.001). Telomere length correlated positively with SIRT1 (r=0.65; p=0.001), whereas telomere length and insulin were not correlated (r=0.03; p=0.87). In conclusion, master athletes have higher SIRT1, lower insulin, and longer telomeres than age-matched non-athletes. Furthermore, SIRT1 was negatively associated with insulin and positively associated with telomere length. These findings suggest that in this sample of middle-aged participants reduced insulin, increased SIRT1 activity, and attenuation of biological aging are connected.

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Section: Non-athletes (N = 19)supporting

confidence: 93%

Telomere Length, SIRT1, and Insulin in Male Master Athletes: The Path to Healthy Longevity?

et al. 2021

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“…In physically trained individuals, OS becomes smaller both at rest and during acute PE when compared with sedentary individuals ( Venditti et al, 1999 ). Further, the hormetic effect of chronic PE ( Radak et al, 2014 ; Margaritelis et al, 2018 ; Aguiar et al, 2021 ) is an efficient tool to promote improvement in EAS, especially in susceptible individuals to a greater situation of OS such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) or with cardiovascular disease ( Radak et al, 2014 ; de Sousa et al, 2016 ). Even in healthy individuals, chronic PE (especially aerobic types) leads to redox system adaptations that decrease OS levels ( Margaritelis et al, 2018 ; Aguiar et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Potential Role Of Chronic Physical Exercise On Vitiligo Deve...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, the hormetic effect of chronic PE ( Radak et al, 2014 ; Margaritelis et al, 2018 ; Aguiar et al, 2021 ) is an efficient tool to promote improvement in EAS, especially in susceptible individuals to a greater situation of OS such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) or with cardiovascular disease ( Radak et al, 2014 ; de Sousa et al, 2016 ). Even in healthy individuals, chronic PE (especially aerobic types) leads to redox system adaptations that decrease OS levels ( Margaritelis et al, 2018 ; Aguiar et al, 2021 ). Finally, it is important to mention the conclusions of a meta-analysis ( de Sousa et al, 2016 ; Aguiar et al, 2021 ), supporting that chronic PE tends to decrease OS markers and increase the antioxidant system, without a redox imbalance after a well-designed PE program.…”

Section: Potential Role Of Chronic Physical Exercise On Vitiligo Deve...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Role of Chronic Physical Exercise as a Treatment in the Development of Vitiligo

et al. 2022

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Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive skin depigmentation and the appearance of white patches throughout the body caused by significant apoptosis of epidermal melanocytes. Despite not causing any physical pain, vitiligo can originate several psychosocial disorders, drastically reducing patients’ quality of life. Emerging evidence has shown that vitiligo is associated with several genetic polymorphisms related to auto-reactivity from the immune system to melanocytes. Melanocytes from vitiligo patients suffer from excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by defective mitochondria besides a poor endogenous antioxidant system (EAS). This redox imbalance results in dramatic melanocyte oxidative stress (OS), causing significant damage in proteins, lipid membranes, and DNA. The damaged melanocytes secret damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMPs), inducing and increasing inflammatory gene expression response that ultimately leads to melanocytes apoptosis. Vitiligo severity has been also associated with increasing the prevalence and incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) or associated disorders such as insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia. Thus, suggesting that in genetically predisposed individuals, the environmental context that triggers MetS (i.e., sedentary lifestyle) may also be an important trigger for the development and severity of vitiligo disease. This paper will discuss the relationship between the immune system and epidermal melanocytes and their interplay with the redox system. Based on state-of-the-art evidence from the vitiligo research, physical exercise (PE) immunology, and redox system literature, we will also propose chronic PE as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat and prevent vitiligo disease progression. We will present evidence that chronic PE can change the balance of inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state, improve both EAS and the mitochondrial structure and function (resulting in the decrease of OS). Finally, we will highlight clinically relevant markers that can be analyzed in a new research avenue to test the potential applicability of chronic PE in vitiligo disease.

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“…Recent studies showed that master athletes have longer telomeres and higher TAC than non-athletes. Additionally, the training intensity can play an important role [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-Specific Association of Serum Anti-Oxidative Capacity and Leukocyte Telomere Length

Hassler

Almer²,

Reishofer

et al. 2021

Antioxidants

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Telomeres are a crucial factor in the preservation of genomic integrity, and an elevated risk for diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular events is related to shortened telomeres. However, telomere deterioration could be caused by factors such as chronic oxidative stress and inflammation, which are promoted by an imbalance among reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between telomeres and oxidative stress. The serum leucocyte telomer length (LTL), serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the total serum lipid panel of 180 healthy athletic volunteers (90 males, 90 females) were measured Additionally, a questionnaire about sports behaviour and the type of training was completed. We observed a positive significant relation between serum LTL and TAC in the male group (cc = 3.4/p = 0.001) but not in females. There was no statistically significant correlation between age and physical activity and LTL in both groups. This is the first cross sectional study demonstrating an association between total serum TAC and LTL in healthy males, but interestingly, not in the females. Nevertheless, these results should be interpreted as preliminary, and further studies in independent cohorts are needed to investigate the sex-specific effects of oxidative stress on telomere length and telomerase activity.

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Master athletes have longer telomeres than age-matched non-athletes. A systematic review, meta-analysis and discussion of possible mechanisms

Cited by 23 publications

References 51 publications

Telomere Length, SIRT1, and Insulin in Male Master Athletes: The Path to Healthy Longevity?

Telomere Length, SIRT1, and Insulin in Male Master Athletes: The Path to Healthy Longevity?

Potential Role of Chronic Physical Exercise as a Treatment in the Development of Vitiligo

Sex-Specific Association of Serum Anti-Oxidative Capacity and Leukocyte Telomere Length

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