Elizabeth Milne1, Nathan O'Callaghan2, Padmaja Ramankutty3, Nicholas H de Klerk3, Kathryn R Greenop3, Bruce K Armstrong4, Margaret Miller5, Michael Fenech2. 1. Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Liz.Milne@telethonkids.org.au. 2. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Food, Nutrition and Bioproducts Flagship, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 3. Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 4. Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sax Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 5. Child Health Promotion Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Telomeres are long hexamer (TTAGGG) repeats at the ends of chromosomes, and contribute to maintenance of chromosomal stability. Telomere shortening has been linked to cancers and other chronic diseases in adults, although evidence for causal associations is limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether nutritional factors are associated with telomere length (TL) in children. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of nutritional factors and TL in 437 children between 2009 and 2011. Healthy children ages 3, 6, and 9 y provided blood samples, and their parents completed a food frequency questionnaire and a telephone interview about relevant environmental exposures. TL and blood micronutrient levels were measured, and genotyping at 10 loci was undertaken. Associations between the micronutrients and other variables were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: No significant main or interactive effects of age or sex were seen. After adjustment for age, sex, parental education, and month of blood collection, TL was inversely associated with plasma zinc, and shorter in children with the homozygous mutant genotype of the RFC G80A (rs1051266) polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the association between telomere length and micronutrients in healthy children. The reason for the inverse relationship of TL with zinc is unknown but could be the result of an increase in telomere sequence deletions caused by labile zinc induction of oxidative stress. These findings should be corroborated in other studies before nutritional recommendations might be considered.
OBJECTIVE: Telomeres are long hexamer (TTAGGG) repeats at the ends of chromosomes, and contribute to maintenance of chromosomal stability. Telomere shortening has been linked to cancers and other chronic diseases in adults, although evidence for causal associations is limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether nutritional factors are associated with telomere length (TL) in children. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of nutritional factors and TL in 437 children between 2009 and 2011. Healthy children ages 3, 6, and 9 y provided blood samples, and their parents completed a food frequency questionnaire and a telephone interview about relevant environmental exposures. TL and blood micronutrient levels were measured, and genotyping at 10 loci was undertaken. Associations between the micronutrients and other variables were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: No significant main or interactive effects of age or sex were seen. After adjustment for age, sex, parental education, and month of blood collection, TL was inversely associated with plasma zinc, and shorter in children with the homozygous mutant genotype of the RFC G80A (rs1051266) polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the association between telomere length and micronutrients in healthy children. The reason for the inverse relationship of TL with zinc is unknown but could be the result of an increase in telomere sequence deletions caused by labile zinc induction of oxidative stress. These findings should be corroborated in other studies before nutritional recommendations might be considered.
Authors: Hilary J Bethancourt; Mario Kratz; Shirley A A Beresford; M Geoffrey Hayes; Christopher W Kuzawa; Paulita L Duazo; Judith B Borja; Daniel T A Eisenberg Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 5.614
Authors: Irene Pusceddu; Wolfgang Herrmann; Marcus E Kleber; Hubert Scharnagl; Michael M Hoffmann; Brigitte M Winklhofer-Roob; Winfried März; Markus Herrmann Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2019-05-25 Impact factor: 5.614