Researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia demonstrate that a daily 2,000 IU dose of vitamin D3 significantly preserves telomere length in adults aged 50 and above by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, suggesting a cost-effective approach to promote healthy aging.

Key points

• Mass General Brigham and Medical College of Georgia researchers conducted a five-year VITAL randomized trial analysis.
• Daily oral supplementation of 2,000 IU vitamin D3 preserves telomere length by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Study participants aged 50+ show up to three years’ worth of delayed telomere shortening, measured via leukocyte telomere assays.

Why it matters: Preserving telomeres could shift anti-aging strategies toward affordable, low-risk interventions with broad chronic disease prevention potential.