Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth?
Telomeres are complexes consisting of tandem repeat DNA combined with associated proteins that play a key role in protecting the ends of chromosomes and maintaining genome stability. They are considered a biological clock, as they shorten in parallel with aging. Furthermore, short telomeres are asso...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3723 |
| _version_ | 1797484071536820224 |
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| author | Magdalena Ogłuszka Paweł Lipiński Rafał R. Starzyński |
| author_facet | Magdalena Ogłuszka Paweł Lipiński Rafał R. Starzyński |
| author_sort | Magdalena Ogłuszka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Telomeres are complexes consisting of tandem repeat DNA combined with associated proteins that play a key role in protecting the ends of chromosomes and maintaining genome stability. They are considered a biological clock, as they shorten in parallel with aging. Furthermore, short telomeres are associated with several age-related diseases. However, the variability in telomere shortening independent of chronological age suggests that it is a modifiable factor. In fact, it is regulated inter alia by genetic damage, cell division, aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation. A key question remains: how can we prevent accelerated telomere attrition and subsequent premature replicative senescence? A number of studies have explored the possible impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere shortening. This review summarizes published cross-sectional studies, randomized controlled trials, and rodent studies investigating the role of omega-3 fatty acids in telomere biology. It also covers a broad overview of the mechanism, currently favored in the field, that explains the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomeres—the food compound’s ability to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation. Although the results of the studies performed to date are not consistent, the vast majority indicate a beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere length. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8563e975b37c473b9b8bdbbd292a3d3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-8563e975b37c473b9b8bdbbd292a3d3c2023-11-23T18:10:40ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-09-011418372310.3390/nu14183723Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth?Magdalena Ogłuszka0Paweł Lipiński1Rafał R. Starzyński2Department of Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, PolandDepartment of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, PolandDepartment of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, PolandTelomeres are complexes consisting of tandem repeat DNA combined with associated proteins that play a key role in protecting the ends of chromosomes and maintaining genome stability. They are considered a biological clock, as they shorten in parallel with aging. Furthermore, short telomeres are associated with several age-related diseases. However, the variability in telomere shortening independent of chronological age suggests that it is a modifiable factor. In fact, it is regulated inter alia by genetic damage, cell division, aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation. A key question remains: how can we prevent accelerated telomere attrition and subsequent premature replicative senescence? A number of studies have explored the possible impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere shortening. This review summarizes published cross-sectional studies, randomized controlled trials, and rodent studies investigating the role of omega-3 fatty acids in telomere biology. It also covers a broad overview of the mechanism, currently favored in the field, that explains the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomeres—the food compound’s ability to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation. Although the results of the studies performed to date are not consistent, the vast majority indicate a beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere length.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3723telomeresenescenceomega-3 fatty acidoxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Magdalena Ogłuszka Paweł Lipiński Rafał R. Starzyński Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? Nutrients telomere senescence omega-3 fatty acid oxidative stress |
| title | Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? |
| title_full | Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? |
| title_short | Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres—Are They the Elixir of Youth? |
| title_sort | effect of omega 3 fatty acids on telomeres are they the elixir of youth |
| topic | telomere senescence omega-3 fatty acid oxidative stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3723 |
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