Dataset Information

Healthy lifestyle and leukocyte telomere length in U.S. women.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Whether a healthy lifestyle may be associated with longer telomere length is largely unknown.

Objectives

To examine healthy lifestyle practices, which are primary prevention measures against major age-related chronic diseases, in relation to leukocyte telomere length.

Design and setting

Cross-sectional analysis in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS).

Participants

The population consisted of 5,862 women who participated in multiple prospective case-control studies within the NHS cohort. Z scores of leukocyte telomere length were derived within each case-control study. Based on prior work, we defined low-risk or healthy categories for five major modifiable factors assessed in 1988 or 1990: non-current smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight (body mass index in 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)), engaging in regular moderate or vigorous physical activities (?150 minutes/week), drinking alcohol in moderation (1 drink/week to <2 drinks/day), and eating a healthy diet (Alternate Healthy Eating Index score in top 50%). We calculated difference (%) of the z scores contrasting low-risk groups with reference groups to evaluate the association of interest.

Results

Although none of the individual low-risk factors was significantly associated with larger leukocyte telomere length z scores, we observed a significant, positive relationship between the number of low-risk factors and the z scores. In comparison with women who had zero low-risk factors (1.9% of the total population) and were, therefore, considered the least healthy group, the leukocyte telomere length z scores were 16.4%, 22.1%, 28.7%, 22.6%, and 31.2% (P for trend?=?0.015) higher for women who had 1 to 5 low-risk factors, respectively.

Conclusions

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle, defined by major modifiable risk factors, was associated with longer telomere length in leukocytes.

SUBMITTER: Sun Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3365002 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Healthy lifestyle and leukocyte telomere length in U.S. women.

Sun Qi Q Shi Ling L Prescott Jennifer J Chiuve Stephanie E SE Hu Frank B FB De Vivo Immaculata I Stampfer Meir J MJ Franks Paul W PW Manson JoAnn E JE Rexrode Kathryn M KM

PloS one 20120531 5

<h4>Context</h4>Whether a healthy lifestyle may be associated with longer telomere length is largely unknown.<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine healthy lifestyle practices, which are primary prevention measures against major age-related chronic diseases, in relation to leukocyte telomere length.<h4>Design and setting</h4>Cross-sectional analysis in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS).<h4>Participants</h4>The population consisted of 5,862 women who participated in multiple prospective case-control studies ...[more]

PMID: 22675460

Similar Datasets

Project description:Study questionIs preconception leukocyte telomere length associated with fecundability, pregnancy loss and live birth among women attempting natural conception with a history of 1-2 prior pregnancy losses?Summary answerPreconception leukocyte telomere length is not associated with fecundability, pregnancy loss or live birth.What is known alreadyAs women increasingly delay childbearing, accessible preconception biomarkers to predict pregnancy outcomes among women seeking natural conception could improve preconception counseling. Findings of small case-control or cross-sectional studies suggest that telomere attrition is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women undergoing fertility treatment, but prospective studies in non-clinical populations are lacking.Study design, size, durationParticipants included 1228 women aged 18-40 years with a history of 1-2 prior pregnancy losses who were recruited at four university medical centers (2006-2012).Participants/materials, setting, methodsPreconception leukocyte telomere length was measured at baseline using PCR and reported as a ratio (T/S) in relation to population-specific standard reference DNA. Women were followed for up to six cycles while attempting to conceive. Associations of telomere length with fecundability, live birth and pregnancy loss were estimated using discrete Cox proportional hazards models and log-binomial models.Main results and the role of chanceAfter adjustment for age, BMI, smoking and other factors, preconception telomere length was not associated with fecundability (Q4 vs Q1 FOR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.79, 1.27), live birth (Q4 vs Q1 RR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.85, 1.19), or pregnancy loss (Q4 vs Q1 RR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.78, 1.62).Limitations, reasons for cautionTelomere length was measured in leukocytes, which is an accessible tissue in women attempting natural conception but may not reflect telomere length in oocytes. Most women were younger than 35 years, limiting our ability to evaluate associations among older women. Participants had a history of 1-2 prior pregnancy losses; therefore, our findings may not be widely generalizable.Wider implications of the findingsDespite prior research suggesting that telomere length may be associated with pregnancy outcomes among women seeking fertility treatment, our findings suggest that leukocyte telomere length is not a suitable biomarker of pregnancy establishment or maintenance among women attempting natural conception.Study funding/competing interest(s)This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; contract numbers HHSN267200603423, HHSN267200603424 and HHSN267200603426). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.Trial registration numberThe trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00467363.

Dataset Information

Healthy lifestyle and leukocyte telomere length in U.S. women.

Context

Objectives

Design and setting

Participants

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Healthy lifestyle and leukocyte telomere length in U.S. women.

Similar Datasets

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