New results from the landmark VITAL trial show that daily supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 can significantly slow Telomere shortening—a key mechanism of cellular aging.

Telomeres are protective caps of DNA and protein at the ends of chromosomes, acting like plastic tips on shoelaces to prevent damage. With each cell division, telomeres naturally shorten, limiting a cell’s ability to divide and contributing to aging.

Among over 1,000 older adults tracked for four (4) years, those receiving Vitamin D lost 140 fewer DNA base pairs on average than those on placebo, equivalent to about three years of aging. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study measured leukocyte telomere lengths at three time points and found a consistent protective trend in the Vitamin D group.