Author: Loprinzi PD1, Loenneke JP, Blackburn EH.
Affiliation: 11Center for Health Behavior Research, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS; 2Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS; 3Blackburn Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Conference/Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc.
Date published: 2015 May 12
Other:
Word Count: 227
INTRODUCTION:
Short leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has become a hallmark characteristic of aging. Some, but not all evidence suggests that physical activity may play an important role in attenuating age-related diseases and may provide a protective effect for telomeres. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and LTL in a national sample of U.S. adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
METHODS:
NHANES data from the 1999-2002 (n = 6,503; 20-84 yrs) were used. 4 self-report questions related to movement based behaviors (MBB) were assessed. The 4 MBB included whether individuals participated in moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA), vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA), walking/cycling for transportation, and muscle strengthening activities (MSA). A MBB index variable was created by summing the number of MBB each individual engaged in (range: 0-4).
RESULTS:
A clear dose-response relationship was observed between MBB and LTL; across the LTL tertiles, respectively, the mean number of MBB was 1.18, 1.44, and 1.54 (Ptrend<0.001). After adjustments (including age), and compared to those engaging in 0 MBB, those engaging in 1, 2, 3, and 4 MBB, respectively, had a 3% (p=0.84), 24% (p=0.02), 29% (p=0.04), and 52% (p=0.004) reduced odds of being in the lowest (vs. highest) tertile of LTL; MBB was not associated with being in the middle (vs. highest) tertile of LTL.
CONCLUSIONS:
Greater engagement in MBB was associated with reduced odds of being in the lowest LTL tertile.
PMID: 25970659