Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Telomere Length, a Biological Marker of Aging

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect chromosome integrity. Telomere length is a biological marker of aging; longer telomeres are associated with longer life expectancy and lower risk for chronic disease (NEJM JW Gen Med Jul 20 2010). In this study, researchers used data from the population-based Nurses' Health Study to determine whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with longer telomere length.

About 4700 disease-free women (mean age, 59) completed food questionnaires in 1980, 1984, 1986, and every 4 years thereafter. Participants provided blood samples during 1989 and 1990; telomere length was determined using DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Unsurprisingly, age at …