| The information in this column is intended for | | | | by measuring the length of telomeres in their blood |
| informational purposes only, and does not constitute | | | | cells. Moreover, variations in telomere length between |
| medical advice or recommendations by the author. | | | | individuals can also be used as a rough guide to |
| Please consult with your physician before making any | | | | potential differences in lifespan between such |
| lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any | | | | individuals. In this innovative public health study, |
| other concerns regarding your health. | | | | differences in telomere length among the 2,006 elderly |
| Many health claims have been made for green tea, | | | | research volunteers participating in this study were |
| and as with the vast majority of over-hyped fad | | | | then matched to variations in the diets and lifestyles of |
| foods and nutritional supplements, the majority of such | | | | these Chinese patients. |
| claims will, inevitably, turn out to be overstated or false. | | | | After adjusting for other health, lifestyle, and nutritional |
| However, recent and ongoing clinical research | | | | factors known to be associated with telomere length, |
| continues to suggest that, at least in the laboratory | | | | the scientists conducting this study determined that a |
| environment, key chemical components of green tea | | | | high level of green tea consumption was associated |
| (catechins) may indeed have potentially beneficial | | | | with longer telomeres in elderly Chinese men. After |
| health properties. Specifically, research in the areas of | | | | measuring the average difference in telomere length |
| cardiovascular health and cancer prevention have | | | | between men who consumed the most green tea and |
| suggested that green tea catechins might actually be | | | | those who consumed the least, the researchers |
| able to decrease the risk of these two top killers, | | | | calculated a potential lifespan difference of 5 year |
| although, in the interest of remaining objective, not all | | | | between these two groups of men (the effects of |
| research in these areas has been uniformly favorable. | | | | green tea length on telomere length in the elderly |
| Now, a newly published public health study of elderly | | | | Chinese women was less significant in this study, |
| Chinese adults suggests that increased green tea | | | | however). |
| intake, at least in elderly Chinese men, may be | | | | The researchers also determined that increased |
| associated with a potential increase in lifespan. In this | | | | dietary fat and oil intake was also associated with a |
| epidemiological study, just published in the British Journal | | | | decrease in the length of telomeres in women (as has |
| of Nutrition, a total of 976 men and 1,030 women aged | | | | been noted in both men and women in previous |
| 65 and older were initially evaluated in 2006. In addition | | | | studies, particularly in association with meat intake). |
| to daily food intake questionnaires, the blood of these | | | | Therefore, in summary, the frequent consumption of |
| research volunteers was tested for telomere length, in | | | | green tea appears to be linked with longer telomere |
| an effort to identify any dietary or other lifestyle | | | | length, at least in elderly Chinese men. This finding |
| factors that might be associated with | | | | suggests that, on average, such men may be |
| lifespan-lengthening preservation of telomere length. | | | | approximately 5 years "younger," physiologically |
| Telomeres can be thought of as protective "caps" at | | | | speaking, than their same-aged counterparts who |
| the ends of every chromosome in our body. With | | | | rarely drink green tea! |
| every division of the cells of our body, small pieces of | | | | This study, unfortunately, did not identify the same |
| our telomeres are lost. After a certain number of cell | | | | telomere protective effect for green tea in elderly |
| divisions, our cells lose their protective telomeres and | | | | Chinese women, although this finding does not exclude |
| die. This cumulative process of telomere loss and cell | | | | the possibility that women may also derive similar |
| death (senescence), over the course of our lives, is | | | | benefit from regular green tea consumption. As it is |
| thought to directly determine the potential lifespan of | | | | already known that males lose telomere length more |
| humans and other creatures, and has also been | | | | rapidly than females over the course of their lives, the |
| implicated in the process whereby many cancer cells | | | | gender-based differences in telomere length |
| become "immortalized." | | | | preservation observed in this study may arise from |
| In addition to aging (due to cumulative telomere loss | | | | green tea catechins' reversal of male-specific causes |
| with each cell division), inflammation and other | | | | of increased telomere shortening, although this has not |
| biochemical stresses (including increased dietary fat | | | | yet been scientifically confirmed. (I should also add that |
| intake) on our bodies can also prematurely shorten the | | | | Vitamin D, which has recently gained a great deal of |
| length of telomeres in our cells, resulting in a shortened | | | | research attention in the areas of cardiovascular |
| lifespan and an increased risk of developing cancer | | | | disease and cancer, as well, has also been associated |
| (and, perhaps, an increased risk of cardiovascular | | | | with telomere length preservation.) |
| disease as well). Interestingly, the rate of telomere loss | | | | I will delve much more deeply into the potential cancer |
| appears to be more rapid in men, and this is thought to | | | | prevention roles of green tea catechins and Vitamin D |
| be one of the most important biological factors | | | | in my new book, "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the |
| underlying the generally shorter lifespan of men, | | | | Human Race," which is due to be published in early |
| compared to women. | | | | 2010. |
| Scientists can actually roughly estimate a person's age | | | | |