Clin Nutr Res.  2016 Jan;5(1):7-14. 10.7762/cnr.2016.5.1.7.

Leukocyte Telomere Length is Associated With Serum Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine Levels in Older Adults With the Presence of Systemic Inflammation

• Shin C
• Baik I

• KMID: 2162590
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2016.5.1.7

Abstract

Folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine (HCY) are involved in the metabolism of nucleic acid precursors and it has been hypothesized that they also influence telomere length, a biomarker of aging. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings, and data for older adults are limited. Our study aimed to evaluate associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and serum folate, vitamin B12, and HCY levels among adults aged 55 years and over. In a cross-sectional study in 798 men and women aged 55-79 years, serum folate, vitamin B12, and HCY levels were measured using chemiluminescent immunometric assays, and relative LTL was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To evaluate associations between LTL and serum folate, vitamin B12, and HCY levels, multiple linear regression models were used. In multiple models adjusted for age, sex, serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and other potential confounding factors, we found no association between LTL and serum folate, vitamin B12, and HCY levels. However, we did find a significant inverse association between HCY levels and LTL in participants with serum hs-CRP levels of > or = 2 mg/L (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a trend toward an association between HCY and vitamin B12 levels in these individuals (p = 0.08). In those with serum hs-CRP levels of < 2 mg/L, HCY was inversely associated with vitamin B12 levels (p < 0.001) and had no association with LTL. Our findings suggest that increased serum HCY levels, when combined with the presence of systemic inflammation, may play a role in accelerating biological aging.

Keyword

Telomere length; B vitamins; Homocysteine; C-reactive protein; Older adults

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aging
C-Reactive Protein
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Folic Acid
Homocysteine*
Humans
Inflammation*
Leukocytes*
Linear Models
Male
Metabolism
Nucleic Acid Precursors
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Telomere*
Vitamin B 12*
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamins*
C-Reactive Protein
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Nucleic Acid Precursors
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamins

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Prevalence of low, normal, or high levels of serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine.

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