#Telomere

A growing body of research suggests that some everyday foods could be nudging our bodies toward aging faster than we expect. In particular, margarine and other vegetable oil spreads—long considered a convenient, cheap alternative to butter—are under the spotlight as potential contributors to aging processes. The latest scientific threads tie dietary choices not only to heart health or weight, but to deeper biological markers of aging, such as telomere length, which acts as a cellular clock. For Thai families balancing busy schedules with healthful cooking, these findings add a new layer to ongoing conversations about how to prepare meals that support longevity and well-being.

A landmark randomized trial suggests that vitamin D supplements may slow a key aging process by protecting telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. In a sub-study of a large U.S. clinical trial, participants who took vitamin D3 at 2,000 IU per day showed less shortening of telomeres over four years compared with those given a placebo. The finding implies that vitamin D could help delay certain aging-related changes at the cellular level, although researchers caution that more research is needed to confirm long-term benefits and to understand who might benefit most. By contrast, a similar omega-3 fatty acid supplementation showed no significant effect on telomere length in the same study.