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Ulak M, Kvestad I, Chandyo RK, Schwinger C, Basnet S, Shrestha M, Ranjitkar S, Nguyen LV, Corona-Pérez D, De Vivo I, Ueland PM, McCann A, Strand TA. The Effect of Vitamin B 12 Supplementation on Leukocyte Telomere Length in Mildly Stunted Nepalese Children: A Secondary Outcome of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr 2024; 154:2543-2550. [PMID: 37918674 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin B12 is essential for deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and genome stability. A deficiency of vitamin B12 is associated with telomere shortening, genomic aging, and increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. OBJECTIVES The study aims to determine the effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in infants at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. METHODS The study was a predefined secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial enrolling 600 Nepalese infants aged 6 -11 mo, who were supplemented with 2 μg (2-3 recommended daily allowances) vitamin B12 or placebo daily for 1 y. At the end of the study, LTL was measured in 497 participants. Mean LTL was compared between the treatment arms in the full sample and predefined subgroups based on markers of vitamin B12 status, hemoglobin, sex, and growth indices. RESULTS LTL at end-study did not differ between the vitamin B12 and placebo arm with a standardized mean difference (95% confidence interval) of 0.04 (-0.14, 0.21). There was no effect of vitamin B12 on LTL in any of the subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Providing daily vitamin B12 for 1 y during infancy in a population at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency does not affect LTL. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02272842.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjeswori Ulak
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Ingrid Kvestad
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth - Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway; Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Ram K Chandyo
- Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Catherine Schwinger
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sudha Basnet
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Merina Shrestha
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Suman Ranjitkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Linda Vy Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; United States and Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Diana Corona-Pérez
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; United States and Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; United States and Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Tor A Strand
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
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Walker CG, Thayer ZM, Marks EJ, Ly KN, Pillai A, Waldie K, Underwood L, Snell RG, Knowles SD, Cha JE, Morton SMB. Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 174:319-325. [PMID: 38685189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The biological mechanisms that explain how adverse early life events influence adult disease risk are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is via the induction of accelerated biological aging, for which telomere length is considered a biomarker. We aimed to determine if maternal depression pre- and post-partum was associated with telomere length in children at 4 years of age (n = 4299). Mothers completed structured questionnaires assessing depression during pregnancy (Edinburgh Depression Scale), at 9 months (Edinburgh Depression Scale), and at 54 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). Regression methods were used to investigate the relationship between telomere length (DNA from saliva) and maternal depression score recorded at each stage. Significant covariates included in the final model were: maternal age at pregnancy; child sex; child ethnicity; gestational age group, and rurality group. Child telomere length was found to be longer if their mother had a higher depression score at both postpartum time points tested (9 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.01, 54 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.002, P = 0.02). Although these findings seem paradoxical, increased telomere length may be an adaptive response to early life stressors. We propose several testable hypotheses for these results and to determine if the positive association between depression and telomere length is a developmental adaptation or an indirect consequence of environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline G Walker
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Zaneta M Thayer
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emma J Marks
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kien N Ly
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Avinesh Pillai
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen Waldie
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Underwood
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Russell G Snell
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sarah D Knowles
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Auckland Museum, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jane E Cha
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Susan M B Morton
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Khalil D, Giurgescu C, Misra DP, Templin T, Jenuwine E, Drury SS. Psychosocial Factors and Telomere Length Among Parents and Infants of Immigrant Arab American Families. Biol Res Nurs 2023; 25:137-149. [PMID: 36036284 PMCID: PMC10331091 DOI: 10.1177/10998004221124145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background: Immigrant Arab American families face multiple stressors related to migration and resettlement. Telomere length (TL) is an established biomarker of aging and psychosocial stress. No published studies have concurrently examined the association between maternal and paternal psychosocial factors and infants' TL. The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare mother, father, and infant TLs; (2) explore the association of maternal and paternal psychosocial factors (acculturative stress and depressive symptoms) with maternal and paternal TL; and (3) explore the association of maternal and paternal psychosocial factors with infants' TL among Arab American immigrants. Method: Using a cross-sectional exploratory design, a sample of 52 immigrant Arab American mother-father-infant triads were recruited from community centers. Data were collected in a single home visit when the infant was 6-24 months old. Each parent completed the study questionnaires addressing their psychosocial factors (acculturative stress, and depressive symptoms), then parents and infants provided buccal cell for TL measurement. Results: Maternal TL was positively correlated to infants' TL (r = .31, p = .04) and significantly shorter (p < .001). Paternal TL was not correlated with infant TL but was significantly shorter than infant's TL (p < .001). Maternal depression was significantly correlated with mothers' TL (r = .4, p = .007). Higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms were significantly associated with shorter infant TL when controlling for background characteristics. Conclusions: Our pilot study is the first study to examine maternal and paternal psychosocial factors related to migration and infants' TL. More research is needed to advance our understanding of the effects of immigration on the intergenerational transfer of stress and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Khalil
- College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Carmen Giurgescu
- College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Dawn P. Misra
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Templin
- College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Stacy S. Drury
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Wong KK, Cheng F, Lim CKP, Tam CHT, Tutino G, Yuen LY, Wang CC, Hou Y, Chan MHM, Ho CS, Joglekar MV, Hardikar AA, Jenkins AJ, Metzger BE, Lowe WL, Tam WH, Ma RCW. Early emergence of sexual dimorphism in offspring leukocyte telomere length was associated with maternal and children's glucose metabolism-a longitudinal study. BMC Med 2022; 20:490. [PMID: 36536359 PMCID: PMC9764638 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02687-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is suggested to be a biomarker of biological age and reported to be associated with metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Glucose metabolic traits including glucose and insulin levels have been reported to be associated with LTL in adulthood. However, there is relatively little research focusing on children's LTL and the association with prenatal exposures. This study investigates the relationship between maternal and offspring glucose metabolism with offspring LTL in early life. METHODS This study included 882 mother-child pairs from the HAPO Hong Kong Field Centre, with children evaluated at age 7.0 ± 0.4 (mean ± SD) years. Glucose metabolic traits including maternal post-load glucose during pregnancy, children's glucose and insulin levels, and their derived indices at follow-up were measured or calculated. Offspring LTL was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Sex- and age-adjusted children's LTL was found to be associated with children's HOMA-IR (β=-0.046 ± 0.016, p=0.005). Interestingly, both children's and maternal post-load glucose levels were positively associated with children's LTL. However, negative associations were observed between children's LTL and children's OGTT insulin levels. In addition, the LTL in females was more strongly associated with pancreatic beta-cell function whilst LTL in males was more strongly associated with OGTT glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a close association between maternal and offspring glucose metabolic traits with early life LTL, with the offspring sex as an important modifier of the disparate relationships in insulin production and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwun Kiu Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Feifei Cheng
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Cadmon K P Lim
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Claudia H T Tam
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Greg Tutino
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Yuk Yuen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Chiu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Chinese University of Hong Kong-Sichuan University Joint Laboratory in Reproductive Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yong Hou
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Michael H M Chan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chung Shun Ho
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Mugdha V Joglekar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Anandwardhan A Hardikar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Alicia J Jenkins
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Boyd E Metzger
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - William L Lowe
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Wing Hung Tam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ronald C W Ma
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Research Centre in Diabetes Genomics and Precision Medicine, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
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Kahrizi MS, Patra I, Jalil AT, Achmad H, Alesaeidi S, Al-Gazally ME, Alesaeidi S. Leukocyte telomere length and obesity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Genet 2022; 13:861101. [PMID: 36160016 PMCID: PMC9490371 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.861101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Several studies have revealed the negative effects of adiposity on telomere length shortening. However, the results of the studies assessing the negative relationship between obesity and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) are not consistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis are aimed to pool the results of articles assessing the relationship between obesity and LTL among children and adolescents. Methods: To retrieve the related studies, four online databases including PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, and Scopus were searched until May 2022. Observational studies evaluating the relationship between obesity and LTL among apparently healthy children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) were included in the study. We considered the studies that had reported a mean ± standard deviation of LTL. The random-effects model was used to assess the pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The search yielded seven studies from an initial 3,403 records identified. According to the results of seven articles with 4,546 participants, obesity was associated with LTL shortening among children and adolescents (WMD = -0.081; 95% CI: -0.137 to -0.026; p = 0.004; I2 = 99.9%). Also, no publication bias was observed. According to the results of subgrouping, significant results were only attributed to the studies conducted in Europe, with high quality scores, among overweight and obese adolescents, with a baseline LTL lower than 1, and performed in community-based school settings. Also, according to the subgrouping and meta-regression results, the obesity definition criteria and baseline LTL were the possible sources of between-study heterogeneity. Conclusion: We observed shorter LTL among overweight and obese children and adolescents. To obtain more reliable results, further longitudinal prospective studies with large sample sizes and more consistent and accurate definitions of obesity are required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Indrajit Patra
- An Independent Researcher, PhD from NIT Durgapur, Durgapur, West Bengal, India
| | | | - Harun Achmad
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Samira Alesaeidi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sogol Alesaeidi
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Imam Hossein Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Wong KK, Cheng F, Mao D, Lim CKP, Tam CHT, Wang CC, Yuen LY, Chan MHM, Ho CS, Joglekar MV, Hardikar AA, Jenkins AJ, Metzger BE, Lowe WL, Tam WH, Ma RCW. Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy Are Associated With Offspring Telomere Length: A Longitudinal Mother-Child Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e3901-e3909. [PMID: 35588001 PMCID: PMC9761577 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of biological aging and is associated with metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Insufficient maternal vitamin D was associated with increased risk for many diseases and adverse later life outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the relationship between vitamin D levels and offspring LTL at early life. METHODS This observational, longitudinal, hospital-based cohort study included eligible mother-child pairs from the HAPO Hong Kong Field Centre, with 853 offspring at age 6.96 ± 0.44 (mean ± SD) years. LTL was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction while serum vitamin D metabolites 25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 were measured in maternal blood (at gestation 24-32 weeks) and cord blood by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS LTL at follow-up was significantly shorter in boys compared with girls (P < 0.001) at age 7. Childhood LTL was negatively associated with childhood BMI (β ± SE = -0.016 ± 0.007)(P = 0.02) and HOMA-IR (β ± SE = -0.065 ± 0.021)(P = 0.002). Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between 25(OH)D and LTL, with covariate adjustments. Childhood LTL was positively correlated with total maternal 25(OH)D (0.048 ± 0.017) (P = 0.004) and maternal 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (0.05 ± 0.017) (P = 0.003), even after adjustment for covariates. A similar association was also noted for cord 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (0.037 ± 0.018) (P = 0.035) after adjustment for offspring sex and age. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 in utero may impact on childhood LTLs, highlighting a potential link between maternal vitamin D and biological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwun Kiu Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feifei Cheng
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Di Mao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cadmon K P Lim
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Claudia H T Tam
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chiu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Chinese University of Hong Kong–Sichuan University Joint Laboratory in Reproductive Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lai Yuk Yuen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael H M Chan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Shun Ho
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mugdha V Joglekar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Anandwardhan A Hardikar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Alicia J Jenkins
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Boyd E Metzger
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - William L Lowe
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Wing Hung Tam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ronald C W Ma
- Correspondence: Ronald C. W. Ma, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
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Influence of Maternal Infection and Pregnancy Complications on Cord Blood Telomere Length. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:3339456. [PMID: 34616503 PMCID: PMC8487834 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3339456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environment might induce structural and functional changes that can affect neonatal health. Telomere length as an important indicator of cellular health has been associated with increased risk for disease development. Objectives This study was aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of maternal, obstetric, and foetal factors on cord blood telomere length (TL). Methods Pregnant women at the gestational age of 20th to 24th week who attended the antenatal clinic of a major local hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, health-related quality of life, and history of risk behaviors. Medical history including pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes was obtained from electronic medical records of both mother and neonate. Umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery for TL determination. Results A total of 753 pregnant women (average age: 32.18 ± 4.51 years) were recruited. The prevalence of maternal infection, anaemia, and hypertension during pregnancy was 30.8%, 30.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = -0.18, p = 0.026). This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = -0.25 to -0.45). Conclusions This study consolidates evidence on the impact of adverse intrauterine environment at the cellular level. Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors.
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Wojcicki JM, Lustig RH, Jacobs LM, Mason AE, Hartman A, Leung C, Stanhope K, Lin J, Schmidt LA, Epel ES. Longer Leukocyte Telomere Length Predicts Stronger Response to a Workplace Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Sales Ban: An Exploratory Study. Curr Dev Nutr 2021; 5:nzab084. [PMID: 34235373 PMCID: PMC8257411 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with increased risk of a number of metabolic diseases including insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Shorter LTL is also associated with stress reactivity suggestive of a possible role for LTL to predict response to behavioral interventions. However, few studies have evaluated how interventions, such as weight loss or dietary changes, are associated with LTL changes or whether LTL can predict behavioral responses to interventions. OBJECTIVES We evaluated metabolic changes in relation to LTL changes and LTL at baseline in a cohort of at-risk adults in response to a 10-mo workplace-based sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intervention. METHODS At baseline, metabolic health and LTL measurements were assessed through standard blood draws on 212 participants. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess changes in anthropometrics, SSB consumption, and 13 blood-based metabolic risk factors, in relation to LTL at baseline and changes in LTL. RESULTS Longer LTL at baseline was associated with decreases in SSB consumption over the 6-mo follow-up period (B = -29.67; P = 0.04). Slower LTL attrition rates were associated with decreases in waist circumference (B = -0.27; P = 0.03), HDL cholesterol (B = -0.20; P = 0.05), and apoA1 (B = -0.09; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Longer LTL at baseline predicted a favorable overall response to a behavioral intervention: decreases in SSB consumption. Abdominal adiposity losses paralleled slower declines in LTL suggestive of overall health benefits, but we found differences in the relations between metabolic changes and LTL at baseline compared with LTL attrition rates. Longer LTL may be a proxy marker of a positive behavioral response.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02585336.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Wojcicki
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert H Lustig
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laurie M Jacobs
- Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ashley E Mason
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alison Hartman
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cindy Leung
- Department of Nutritional Science, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kimber Stanhope
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura A Schmidt
- Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elissa S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Cowell W, Tang D, Yu J, Guo J, Wang S, Baccarelli AA, Perera F, Herbstman JB. Telomere dynamics across the early life course: Findings from a longitudinal study in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 129:105270. [PMID: 34020264 PMCID: PMC8217283 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are protective caps on chromosome ends that shorten with each cell division. Telomere length (TL) predicts the onset of cellular senescence and correlates with longevity and age-related disease risk. Previous research suggests that adults display fixed ranking and tracking of TL by age 20 years, supporting the importance of TL at birth and attrition during childhood. However, longitudinal research examining telomere dynamics during early life is sparse. Here, we used monochrome multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure relative TL in leukocytes isolated from cord blood and child blood collected at ages 3, 5, 7, and 9 years among 224 minority children enrolled in a New York City-based birth cohort. We also measured maternal TL at delivery in a subset of 197 participants with a biobanked blood sample. TL decreased most rapidly in the first years of life (birth to 3 years), followed by a period of maintenance into the pre-puberty period. Mothers with longer telomeres gave birth to newborns with longer telomeres that remained longer across childhood, suggesting that the fixed ranking and tracking of TL observed among adults may extend to early childhood or even the prenatal period with a potential transgenerational basis. We did not find significant sex differences in the pattern of child TL change across development. These findings emphasize the need to understand factors and mechanisms that determine TL during early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Cowell
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10128, USA.
| | - Deliang Tang
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jie Yu
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jia Guo
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Frederica Perera
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Julie B Herbstman
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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10
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Baskind M, Hawkins J, Heyman MB, Wojcicki JM. Obesity at Age 6 Months Is Associated with Shorter Preschool Leukocyte Telomere Length Independent of Parental Telomere Length. J Pediatr 2021; 233:141-149. [PMID: 33242471 PMCID: PMC8141537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether early modifiable dietary factors and obesity measures are associated with leukocyte telomere length at 3-5 years of age after controlling for the heritability of leukocyte telomere length in a prospective cohort of low-income Latina mothers and their children in San Francisco. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed data from the Latinx, Eating and Diabetes cohort, a prospective study of 97 woman-infant dyads. We used linear regression models to evaluate associations between early dietary factors and obesity measures and child leukocyte telomere length at 3-5 years of age. Multivariable models included child age at the time of telomere collection, breastfeeding at 6 months (yes/no), obesity at 6 months, maternal education, child sex, and maternal and paternal leukocyte telomere length. RESULTS Data for 73 of the 97 children at 3-5 years of age were analyzed. Any breastfeeding at 6 months was positively associated (β = 0.14; P = .02) and obesity at 6 months was negatively associated (β = -0.21; P < .001) with leukocyte telomere length in bivariate analyses. In multivariable models including parental leukocyte telomere length, obesity at 6 months was associated with a shorter leukocyte telomere length at 3-5 years of age (β = -0.15; P = .02). Analyses of dietary factors showed high flavored milk consumption at 3 years of age was associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length after adjustment for possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS In a low-income Latinx population, obesity at 6 months of age is negatively associated with cellular health at 3-5 years of age after controlling for genetic factors (parental leukocyte telomere length) associated with leukocyte telomere length. Early life obesity may be more deleterious for cellular health than obesity later in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Baskind
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jessica Hawkins
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Melvin B. Heyman
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Janet M Wojcicki
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
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11
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Gorenjak V, Petrelis AM, Stathopoulou MG, Visvikis-Siest S. Telomere length determinants in childhood. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 58:162-177. [PMID: 31465289 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2019-0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a dynamic marker that reflects genetic predispositions together with the environmental conditions of an individual. It is closely related to longevity and a number of pathological conditions. Even though the extent of telomere research in children is limited compared to that of adults, there have been a substantial number of studies providing first insights into child telomere biology and determinants. Recent discoveries revealed evidence that TL is, to a great extent, determined already in childhood and that environmental conditions in adulthood have less impact than first believed. Studies have demonstrated that large inter-individual differences in TL are present among newborns and are determined by diverse factors that influence intrauterine development. The first years of child growth are associated with high cellular turnover, which results in fast shortening of telomeres. The rate of telomere loss becomes stable in early adulthood. In this review article we summarise the existing knowledge on telomere dynamics during the first years of childhood, highlighting the conditions that affect newborn TL. We also warn about the knowledge gaps that should be filled to fully understand the regulation of telomeres, in order to implement them as biomarkers for use in diagnostics or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sophie Visvikis-Siest
- University of Lorraine, Inserm, IGE-PCV, Nancy, France.,Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, CHU Technopôle Nancy-Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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12
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A Novel Association between YKL-40, a Marker of Structural Lung Disease, and Short Telomere Length in 10-Year-Old Children with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8020080. [PMID: 33498968 PMCID: PMC7912154 DOI: 10.3390/children8020080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Extremely preterm infants are born with immature lungs and are exposed to an inflammatory environment as a result of oxidative stress. This may lead to airway remodeling, cellular aging and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Reliable markers that predict the long-term consequences of BPD in infancy are still lacking. We analyzed two biomarkers of cellular aging and lung function, telomere length and YKL-40, respectively, at 10 years of age in children born preterm with a history of BPD (n = 29). For comparison, these markers were also evaluated in sex-and-age-matched children born at term with childhood asthma (n = 28). Relative telomere length (RTL) was measured in whole blood with qPCR and serum YKL-40 with ELISA, and both were studied in relation to gas exchange and the regional ventilation/perfusion ratio using three-dimensional V/Q-scintigraphy (single photon emission computer tomography, SPECT) in children with BPD. Higher levels of YKL-40 were associated with shorter leukocyte RTL (Pearson's correlation: -0.55, p = 0.002), but were not associated with a lower degree of matching between ventilation and perfusion within the lung. Serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in children with BPD compared to children with asthma (17.7 vs. 13.2 ng/mL, p < 0.01). High levels of YKL-40 and short RTLs were associated to the need for ventilatory support more than 1 month in the neonatal period (p < 0.01). The link between enhanced telomere shortening in childhood and structural remodeling of the lung, as observed in children with former BPD but not in children with asthma at the age of 10 years, suggests altered lung development related to prematurity and early life inflammatory exposure. In conclusion, relative telomere length and YKL-40 may serve as biomarkers of altered lung development as a result of early-life inflammation in children with a history of prematurity.
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13
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Liu X, Liu X, Shi Q, Fan X, Qi K. Association of telomere length and telomerase methylation with n-3 fatty acids in preschool children with obesity. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:24. [PMID: 33413203 PMCID: PMC7788823 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres play a crucial role in cellular survival and its length is a predictor for onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. Studies on association between telomeres and obesity in children have brought discrepant results and the underlying mechanisms and influential factors are to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate changes in telomere length and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) DNA methylation, and further to determine their correlation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in preschool children with obesity. METHODS Forty-six preschool children with obesity aged 3 to 4 years were included in the study, with equal numbers of age- and gender-matched children with normal weight as control. Leukocyte telomere length was determined by the ratio of telomeric product and single copy gene obtained using real-time qPCR. DNA methylation of TERT promoter was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing. Fatty acids in erythrocytes were measured by gas chromatography with a total of 15 fatty acids analyzed. The total saturated fatty acids (SFAs), total n-6 PUFAs, total n-3 PUFAs, and the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were calculated. Then the correlation between leukocyte telomere length, TERT promoter methylation and fatty acids was determined. RESULTS In preschool children with obesity, leukocyte telomeres were shortened and had a negative association with the body mass index. The methylated fractions in 13 of 25 CpG sites in the TERT promoter were increased by approximately 3 to 35% in the children with obesity compared to the normal weight children. Erythrocyte lauric acid and total SFAs, lenoleic acid and total n-6 PUFAs were higher, and DHA was lower in the children with obesity than those in the children with normal weight. Correlative analysis showed that leukocyte telomere length had a positive association with total SFAs and DHA, and a negative association with the AA/DHA ratio. However, no association between erythrocyte DHA and the TERT promoter methylation was found. CONCLUSION These data indicate that the reduced body DHA content and increased AA/DHA ratio may be associated with shortened leukocyte telomeres in child obesity, which is probably not involved in the TERT promoter methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyi Liu
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Xiaozhou Liu
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Qiaoyu Shi
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Xiuqin Fan
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Kemin Qi
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing, 100045, China.
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14
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Kalungi A, Kinyanda E, Womersley JS, Joloba ML, Ssembajjwe W, Nsubuga RN, Kaleebu P, Levin J, Kidd M, Seedat S, Hemmings SMJ. TERT rs2736100 and TERC rs16847897 genotypes moderate the association between internalizing mental disorders and accelerated telomere length attrition among HIV+ children and adolescents in Uganda. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:15. [PMID: 33407441 PMCID: PMC7789327 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-00857-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internalizing mental disorders (IMDs) (depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder) have been associated with accelerated telomere length (TL) attrition; however, this association has not been investigated in the context of genetic variation that has been found to influence TL. We have previously reported an association between IMDs and accelerated TL attrition among Ugandan HIV+ children and adolescents. This study investigated the moderating effects of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms in the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) (rs2736100, rs7726159, rs10069690 and rs2853669) and the telomerase RNA component gene (TERC) (rs12696304, rs16847897 and rs10936599) on the association between IMDs and TL, among Ugandan HIV+ children (aged 5-11 years) and adolescents (aged 12-17 years). RESULTS We found no significant interaction between IMDs as a group and any of the selected SNPs on TL at baseline. We observed significant interactions of IMDs with TERT rs2736100 (p = 0.007) and TERC rs16847897 (p = 0.012), respectively, on TL at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS TERT rs2736100 and TERC rs16847897 moderate the association between IMDs and TL among Ugandan HIV+ children and adolescents at 12 months. Understanding the nature of this association may shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying advanced cellular aging in IMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Kalungi
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Mental Health Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Eugene Kinyanda
- Mental Health Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jacqueline S Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Moses L Joloba
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Wilber Ssembajjwe
- Mental Health Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Statistics and Data Science Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Rebecca N Nsubuga
- Statistics and Data Science Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Jonathan Levin
- School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Martin Kidd
- Centre for Statistical Consultation, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sian M J Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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15
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Esteves KC, Jones CW, Wade M, Callerame K, Smith AK, Theall KP, Drury SS. Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Offspring Telomere Length and Psychopathology. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:47-57. [PMID: 31509004 PMCID: PMC7273739 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with mental and physical health risks that, through biological and psychosocial pathways, likely span generations. Within an individual, telomere length (TL), an established marker of cellular stress and aging, is associated with both ACE exposure and psychopathology, providing the basis for an emerging literature suggesting that TL is a biomarker of the health risks linked to early-life adversity both within and across generations. The authors tested the effect of maternal ACEs on both the trajectory of infant TL and infant social-emotional problems at 18 months of age. METHODS Pregnant women were recruited, and maternal scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire were obtained, along with demographic and prenatal stress measures. Postnatal visits with 155 mother-infant dyads occurred when infants were 4, 12, and 18 months of age. At each visit, infant buccal swabs were collected for TL measurement, and mothers completed measures of maternal depression. Mothers also completed the Child Behavior Checklist at the 18-month visit. Mixed-effects modeling was used to test how maternal ACEs influenced infant TL trajectory. Linear regression was used to test the association between maternal ACEs and infant internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Finally, the interaction between telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months and maternal ACEs was examined as a predictor of infant scores on the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Higher maternal ACEs were associated with shorter infant TL across infancy and higher infant externalizing behavioral problems at 18 months. No associations were found with internalizing behavioral problems. Telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months interacted with maternal ACEs to predict externalizing behaviors. In infants whose mothers reported higher scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire, greater telomere attrition predicted higher externalizing problems, even when accounting for maternal postnatal depression and prenatal stress. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate an interactive pathway between maternal early-life adversity and infant TL that predicts emerging behavioral problems in the next generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle C Esteves
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Christopher W Jones
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Mark Wade
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Keegan Callerame
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Alicia K Smith
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Katherine P Theall
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Stacy S Drury
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
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16
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Ridout KK, Parade SH, Kao HT, Magnan S, Seifer R, Porton B, Price LH, Tyrka AR. Childhood maltreatment, behavioral adjustment, and molecular markers of cellular aging in preschool-aged children: A cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:261-269. [PMID: 31174164 PMCID: PMC7839663 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for the development of behavioral problems and poor physical and mental health. Accelerated cellular aging, through reduced telomere length and mitochondrial dysfunction, may be a mechanism underlying these associations. METHODS Families with (n = 133) and without (n = 123) child welfare documentation of moderate-severe maltreatment in the past six months participated in this study. Children ranged in age from 3 to 5 years, were racially and ethnically diverse, and 91% qualified for public assistance. Structured record review and interviews were used to assess a history of maltreatment and other adversities. Telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) were measured from saliva DNA using real-time PCR. Measures were repeated at a six-month follow-up assessment. Repeated measures general linear models were used to examine the effects of maltreatment and other adversities on telomere length and mtDNAcn over time. RESULTS Maltreatment and other adverse experiences were significant positive predictors of both telomere length and mtDNAcn over time. Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems were also both significantly associated with telomere length, but only internalizing symptoms were associated with mtDNAcn. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to show that mtDNAcn is altered in children with stress and trauma, and the findings are consistent with recent studies of adults. Surprisingly, children who experienced moderate-severe levels of maltreatment in the prior six months had longer telomeres, possibly reflecting compensatory changes in response to recent trauma. Telomere length and mtDNAcn were also associated with behavioral problems, suggesting that these measures of cellular aging may be causally implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn K. Ridout
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephanie H. Parade
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hung-Teh Kao
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stevie Magnan
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ronald Seifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
| | - Barbara Porton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lawrence H. Price
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Audrey R. Tyrka
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Address Correspondence to: Audrey R. Tyrka, M.D., Ph.D., Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906. TEL: (401) 455-6520. FAX: (401) 455-6534.
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17
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Dugdale HL, Richardson DS. Heritability of telomere variation: it is all about the environment! Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2016.0450. [PMID: 29335377 PMCID: PMC5784070 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in telomere length have been linked to survival and senescence. Understanding the heritability of telomere length can provide important insight into individual differences and facilitate our understanding of the evolution of telomeres. However, to gain accurate and meaningful estimates of telomere heritability it is vital that the impact of the environment, and how this may vary, is understood and accounted for. The aim of this review is to raise awareness of this important, but much under-appreciated point. We outline the factors known to impact telomere length and discuss the fact that telomere length is a trait that changes with age. We highlight statistical methods that can separate genetic from environmental effects and control for confounding variables. We then review how well previous studies in vertebrate populations including humans have taken these factors into account. We argue that studies to date either use methodological techniques that confound environmental and genetic effects, or use appropriate methods but lack sufficient power to fully separate these components. We discuss potential solutions. We conclude that we need larger studies, which also span longer time periods, to account for changing environmental effects, if we are to determine meaningful estimates of the genetic component of telomere length. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Dugdale
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
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18
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Wojcicki JM, Elwan D, Lin J, Blackburn E, Epel E. Chronic Obesity and Incident Hypertension in Latina Women Are Associated with Accelerated Telomere Length Loss over a 1-Year Period. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2018; 16:262-266. [PMID: 29750592 DOI: 10.1089/met.2017.0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Shorter telomere length is associated with increased chronic disease risk in adulthood including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between telomere length change and incident disease risk in populations with a high percentage of overweight and obesity. RESULTS In an urban Latina population recruited in San Francisco (n = 82) with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (78.4%), we assessed leukocyte telomere length and telomere length change over a 1-year period in relation to obesity, chronicity of obesity, and incident metabolic disease risk 5-6 years later. We also assessed the relationship between telomere length change over a 1-year period and weight loss. There were no significant associations between baseline telomere length and socio-demographics including age and ethnicity, or current weight status. Telomere length change, however, was associated with being obese at baseline and previous years of chronic obesity. A high percentage of women who were obese at baseline were also obese the year before (90%) and 2 years before (85%). Obesity at baseline was an independent predictor for increased telomere length attrition (β = -346.9, -568.4 to -125.4; P < 0.01). Similarly, chronic obesity was associated with increased risk for accelerated attrition (β = -280.6, -518.4 to -42.8; P < 0.01). INNOVATION We speculate that accelerated attrition may be a harbinger of metabolic disease. We also found that those who had or developed hypertension had accelerated attrition [-407.4 ± 464.0 vs. -168.1 ± 643.6 (P = 0.03)]. CONCLUSION In populations with chronic and long-standing obesity, telomere length attrition rate, rather than baseline telomere length may be a more sensitive indicator of health status including chronic disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Wojcicki
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Deena Elwan
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jue Lin
- 2 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Elizabeth Blackburn
- 2 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Elissa Epel
- 3 Department of Psychiatry, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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19
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Wojcicki JM, Medrano R, Lin J, Epel E. Increased Cellular Aging by 3 Years of Age in Latino, Preschool Children Who Consume More Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Pilot Study. Child Obes 2018; 14:149-157. [PMID: 29148828 PMCID: PMC5910035 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2017.0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies in adults and older children find that sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption increases risk for obesity and cellular aging, as measured by leukocyte telomere length (LTL). METHODS In a previously described, San Francisco-based Latino birth cohort, where telomere length was measured at birth, we evaluate the relationship between beverage consumption (including SSB and 100% fruit juice), obesity, and LTL at 2-3 years old, as well as change in LTL from birth. LTL (T/S Ratio) was measured in 61 children (mean 2.4 years ±0.6 standard deviation). Multivariable linear regression models are used to ascertain beverage type and obesity as independent predictors of LTL and change in LTL. RESULTS Mean telomere length was 1.58 ± 0.20 (T/S Ratio) and mean yearly change was -0.08 ± -0.09 (T/S Ratio). Predictors of shorter telomere length at age 2-3 included increased consumption of SSB (Beta Coeff = -0.009 95% CI [-0.02 to -0.0008]; p = 0.03). Telomere length at birth was the strongest predictor of rate of attrition from birth to 2-3 years of age and males tended to have more rapid attrition. CONCLUSION Excessive SSB consumption impacts early childhood immune system health adversely, possibly before the development of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M. Wojcicki
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Rosalinda Medrano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biophyiscs, and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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20
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Kjaer TW, Faurholt-Jepsen D, Mehta K, Christensen VB, Epel E, Lin J, Blackburn E, Wojcicki JM. Shorter preschool, leukocyte telomere length is associated with obesity at age 9 in Latino children. Clin Obes 2018; 8:88-94. [PMID: 29271129 PMCID: PMC5842114 DOI: 10.1111/cob.12233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the potential role of leukocyte telomere length as a biomarker for development of childhood obesity in a low-income Latino population. A birth cohort of Latino children (N = 201) in San Francisco (recruited May 2006-May 2007) was followed until age 9 and assessed annually for obesity and dietary intake. Leukocyte telomere length was measured at 4 and 5 years (n = 102) and assessed as a predictor for obesity at age 9, adjusting for known risk factors. Furthermore, leukocyte telomere length at age 4 and 5 was evaluated as a possible mediator of the relationship between excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity at age 9. Shorter leukocyte telomere length in preschoolers was associated with obesity at age 9 (adjusted odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.94) after adjustment for known risk factors. Telomere length mediated 11% of the relationship between excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity. Shorter leukocyte telomere length may be an indicator of future obesity risk in high-risk populations as it is particularly sensitive to damage from oxidative stress exposure, including those from sugar-sweetened beverages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thora Wesenberg Kjaer
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Kala Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vibeke Brix Christensen
- Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Blackburn
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Janet M. Wojcicki
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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21
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Bateson M, Nettle D. Why are there associations between telomere length and behaviour? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20160438. [PMID: 29335363 PMCID: PMC5784059 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in telomere length are associated with individual differences in behaviour in humans and birds. Within the human epidemiological literature this association is assumed to result from specific behaviour patterns causing changes in telomere dynamics. We argue that selective adoption-the hypothesis that individuals with short telomeres are more likely to adopt specific behaviours-is an alternative worthy of consideration. Selective adoption could occur either because telomere length directly affects behaviour or because behaviour and telomere length are both affected by a third variable, such as exposure to early-life adversity. We present differential predictions of the causation and selective adoption hypotheses and describe how these could be tested with longitudinal data on telomere length. Crucially, if behaviour is causal then it should be associated with differential rates of telomere attrition. Using smoking behaviour as an example, we show that the evidence that smoking accelerates the rate of telomere attrition within individuals is currently weak. We conclude that the selective adoption hypothesis for the association between behaviour and telomere length is both mechanistically plausible and, if anything, more compatible with existing empirical evidence than the hypothesis that behaviour is causal.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Bateson
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Daniel Nettle
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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22
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Feiler MO, Patel D, Li H, Meacham PJ, Watson GE, Shamlaye C, Yeates A, Broberg K, van Wijngaarden E. The association between early-life relative telomere length and childhood neurodevelopment. Neurotoxicology 2018; 65:22-27. [PMID: 29360532 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the association between telomere length and neurodevelopment in children. METHODS We examined the relationship between relative telomere length (rTL) and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 9 and 30 months, and 5 years of age in children enrolled in the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 1 (NC1). Relative telomere length was measured in cord blood and in child blood at age five. Multivariable linear regression examined associations between neurodevelopmental outcomes and rTL adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS Mean rTL was 1.18 at birth and 0.71 at age five. Increased cord blood rTL was associated with better scores on two neurodevelopmental tests, the psychomotor developmental index (β = 4.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.17, 7.85) at age 30 months, and the Woodcock Johnson test of achievement letter-word score (β = 2.88; CI = 1.21-4.56) at age five. The Woodcock Johnson test of achievement letter-word score remained statistically significant after two outliers were excluded (β = 2.83; CI = 0.69, 4.97); the psychomotor developmental index did not (β = 3.62; CI = -1.28, 8.52). None of the neurodevelopmental outcomes at age five were associated with five-year rTL. CONCLUSION Although increased cord blood rTL was associated with better test scores for a few neurodevelopmental outcomes, this study found little consistent evidence of an association between rTL and neurodevelopment. Future studies with a larger sample size, longer follow-up, and other relevant biological markers (e.g. oxidative stress) are needed to clarify the role of rTL in neurodevelopment and its relevance as a potential surrogate measure for oxidative stress in the field of developmental neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deven Patel
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Huiqi Li
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Philip J Meacham
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States.
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23
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Yeates AJ, Thurston SW, Li H, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Watson GE, Shamlaye CF, Strain JJ, Myers GJ, Davidson PW, van Wijngaarden E, Broberg K. PUFA Status and Methylmercury Exposure Are Not Associated with Leukocyte Telomere Length in Mothers or Their Children in the Seychelles Child Development Study. J Nutr 2017; 147:2018-2024. [PMID: 28978678 PMCID: PMC5657138 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.253021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Leukocyte telomere length (TL) is associated with age-related diseases and early mortality, but there is a lack of data on the determinants of TL in early life. Evidence suggests that dietary intake of marine n-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is protective of telomere attrition, yet the effect of methylmercury exposure, also found in fish, on TL is unknown.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between prenatal PUFA status, methylmercury exposure, and TL in mothers and children in the SCDS (Seychelles Child Development Study), for whom fish consumption is high.Methods: Blood samples collected from 229 mothers (at 28 wk gestation and delivery) and children (at 5 y of age) in the SCDS first nutrition cohort were analyzed for PUFA concentrations. Prenatal mercury was measured in maternal hair collected at delivery. Postnatal mercury was also measured in children's hair samples with the use of a cumulative metric derived from values obtained at 3-5 y of age. Relative TL was measured in blood obtained from mothers at delivery, in cord blood, and in children at 5 y of age by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between PUFA status, methylmercury exposure, and TL.Results: Neither prenatal PUFA status or methylmercury exposure was associated with TL of the mother or child or with TL attrition rate. However, a higher prenatal n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was significantly associated with longer TLs in the mothers (β = 0.001, P = 0.048). Child PUFA status and methylmercury exposure were not associated with child TL. However, higher family Hollingshead socioeconomic status (SES) scores at 9 mo of age were significantly associated with longer TLs in cord blood (β = 0.005, P = 0.03).Conclusions: We found no evidence that PUFA status or methylmercury exposure are determinants of TL in either the mother or child. However, our results support the hypothesis that family SES may be associated with child TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, United Kingdom;
| | - Sally W Thurston
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Huiqi Li
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, United Kingdom
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, United Kingdom
| | - Gene E Watson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Conrad F Shamlaye
- The Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles, Seychelles; and
| | - JJ Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, United Kingdom
| | - Gary J Myers
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Philip W Davidson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Wojcicki JM, Heyman MB, Elwan D, Lin J, Blackburn E, Epel E. Early exclusive breastfeeding is associated with longer telomeres in Latino preschool children. Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 104:397-405. [PMID: 27440083 PMCID: PMC4962153 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.115428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL) is a marker of cellular aging, with the majority of lifetime attrition occurring during the first 4 y. Little is known about risk factors for telomere shortening in childhood. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the relation between early life feeding variables and preschool TL. DESIGN We assessed the relation between dietary, feeding, and weight-associated risk factors measured from birth and TL from blood samples taken at 4 y of age (n = 108) and 5 y of age (n = 92) in a cohort of urban, Latino children (n = 121 individual children). Feeding variables were evaluated in children with repeat measurements (n = 77). RESULTS Mean TL (in bp) was associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 4-6 wk of age (adjusted coefficient: 353.85; 95% CI: 72.81, 634.89; P = 0.01), maternal TL (adjusted coefficient: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.54; P < 0.01), and older paternal age (adjusted coefficient: 33.27; 95% CI: 4.10, 62.44; P = 0.03). The introduction of other foods or drinks in addition to breast-milk or replacement-milk substitutes before 4-6 wk of age was associated with mean TL at 4 and 5 y of age (adjusted coefficient: -457.01; 95% CI: -720.50, -193.51; P < 0.01). Infant obesity at 6 mo of age and soda consumption at 4 y of age mediated the relation in part between exclusive breastfeeding at 4-6 wk of age and mean TL at 4 and 5 y of age. High soda consumption at 3 y of age was associated with an accelerated attrition from 4 to 5 y of age (adjusted coefficient: -515.14; 95% CI: -986.06, -41.22; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION Exclusive breastfeeding at 4-6 wk of age may have long-term effects on child health as evidenced by longer TL at 4 and 5 y of age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jue Lin
- Biochemistry and Biophysics, and
| | | | - Elissa Epel
- Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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