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

Abstract

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.

Recovery from Food Waste—Biscuit Doughs Enriched with Pomegranate Peel Powder as a Model of Fortified Aliment

“…Longevity is associated with healthy food intake, and recent research in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated that the length of telomers, which directly affect the lifespan, is deeply modified by antioxidant treatment [16,17].…”

Leukocyte Telomere Length as a Molecular Biomarker of Coronary Heart Disease

“…The number of LTL studies on this disease is increasing in different age groups of patients and in different racial and ethnic groups compared with healthy controls ( Table 1 ). Thus, in healthy adults without CVD, the relative LTL ranged from 0.69 [ 56 ] to 1.52 CU [ 55 ] and the median relative LTL was 0.93 [0.70; 1.10] CU.…”

“…Hassler et al[56] studied relative LTL in healthy adults (mean age of men 40.77 ± 11.62 years, mean age of women 44.71 ± 10.96 years). The authors found no significant difference in relative LTL in men and women of the study age (0.70 ± 0.28 vs. 0.69 ± 0.31 CU, p-value = 0.75).…”