Investigating the associations between adiposity, life course overweight trajectories, and telomere length

Abstract

Obesity may accelerate ageing through chronic inflammation. To further examine this association, we assessed current adiposity, adiposity at early adulthood and life course overweight trajectories in relation to leukocyte telomere length (LTL). We included a total of 7,008 nationally representative U.S. residents and collected information on objectively measured body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and percent body fat. BMI at age 25 and overweight trajectories were assessed using self-reported history. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) relative to a standard DNA reference (T/S ratio) was quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Linear regression models were used to examine the difference in LTL across adiposity measures at examination, BMI at age 25, and overweight trajectories. A 0.2% decrease in telomere length (95% CI:−0.3 to −0.07%) was observed for every kg/m2 increase in BMI, whereas a unit increase in waist circumference (cm) and percent body fat contributed to a 0.09% and 0.01% decrease in LTL, respectively. Higher BMI and being obese at age 25 contributed to lower LTL at older ages. Associations between weight loss through life course and LTL were observed, which further marked the importance of life course adiposity dynamics as a determinant of ageing.

Longer Telomere Length in Elite Master Sprinters: Relationship to Performance and Body Composition

“…These results may indicate "a possible central role" of body adipos-ity in biomolecular markers of aging and that age per se (chronological age only) may not predict TL in master athletes, unlike apparently healthy non-athletes or diabetic adults [1,35]. Some studies have indicated that obese individuals have a chronic low degree of systemic inflammation [25], which is associated with an increased immune cell division [26,31] and thus leads to increased telomeric shortening [26,34]. So, as a practical point of view, keeping the % of body fat within optimal values (around 15 % for males and 23 % for females) may be an interesting anti-aging strategy.…”

Decoding telomere protein Rap1: Its telomeric and nontelomeric functions and potential implications in diabetic cardiomyopathy

“…Genetic variation and sex have an additional influence on accelerated leukocyte telomere shortening. 76 Furthermore, substantial evidence has demonstrated that telomere shortening has been linked with greater risk of obesity 77 and cardiovascular disease. 78 In particular, a cohort study conducted on 7,008 U.S. residents suggested that a unit increase in percent body fat, waist circumference (cm) and body mass index (kg/m2) contributed, respectively, to a 0.01%, 0.09% and 0.2% decrease in leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio), indicating that life course adiposity dynamics are the determinant of telomere shortening.…”

“… 78 In particular, a cohort study conducted on 7,008 U.S. residents suggested that a unit increase in percent body fat, waist circumference (cm) and body mass index (kg/m2) contributed, respectively, to a 0.01%, 0.09% and 0.2% decrease in leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio), indicating that life course adiposity dynamics are the determinant of telomere shortening. 77 Also, the Strong Heart Family Study sheds light on the potential role of leukocyte telomere length in the prediction of adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes. 78 It was observed that longer leukocyte telomere length was significantly linked with reduced arterial stiffness.…”

Leukocyte Telomere Length in Patients with Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis

“…In fact, obesity and metabolic syndrome promote biological aging and are associated with shorter PBL telomeres (Révész et al, ). Increased abdominal adiposity was found to be associated with accelerated PBL telomere attrition (Wulaningsih et al, ). Shorter PBL telomeres may indicate a premature aging condition which enhances chondrocyte senescence.…”