The effect of a Mediterranean diet on telomere length: a review

Background & Objectives: Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the end of linear chromosomes which have no coding sequences, organized with a repeated TTAGGG sequence. Genome-wide association studies identified ۷۴۳ single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encoding ۴۳ telomere-associated proteins as a marker of cancer risk and identified ۱۳ SNP from ۴ genes associated with telomere length (TL). Telomeres prevent recognition of chromosomes' end as damaged DNA and its apoptosis, advancing ages, and different diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Dysfunctional telomeres are including short telomers and altered structure telomeres which is a biomarker of aging. Some factors can affect on delay of aging and other chronic diseases. Lifestyle and diet are one of these factors included obesity, stress, lack of exercise, and smoking. A diet with more antioxidants, less prosses meat, and less dietary fat can decrease the rate of shorting TL and, the risk of cancer and CVD. Mediterranean diet (MD), is high in vegetables and fruit and low in red meat. So, it can protect cells from oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis and reduce telomere attrition. In this review, we want to associate more about it.Matherial & Method: we search on PubMed and Google-Scholar about telomere and MD and collect all data of related article.Finding: One study, monetarize the effect of some micronutrients on the TL found that food with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrition (e.g. MD) can reduce abrasion of the telomere. A cohort study compared the effect of two types of diet on TL. They see a dietary pattern of higher consumption of nuts, fruits, and dairy products and lower consumption of red or processed meat and sweetened carbonated beverages was associated with longer TL. Another one found that greater subordination to the MD was associated with longer telomeres after adjusting for potential confounders. A trial study comparing MD and a low-fat diet to prevent the rate of telomere shortening; shows that a low-fat diet is more effective. Conclusions: MD can be one recommendation for a healthy dietary pattern associated with longer TL and preventing some chronic diseases.

کلیدواژه ها:

telomere ، Mediterranean diet ، telomere length ، aging