Transcription
Aging is natural. You will age, I will age, but the speed at which we age. I'm Dr. Yashwant, founder of veganism.org, with 25 years in clinical medicine and nutrition. I break down the science. Subscribe now and let's continue.
So, here is what's happening inside you. Every chromosome in your body has a protective cap called a telomere. Think of it like the plastic tip on a shoelace. Every time a cell divides, that cap gets a little shorter. That shortening will happen. It's biology. The question isn't if it happens. The question is how fast it happens.
Now, here is the part that should stop you in your tracks. In 2025, the landmark vital trial with nearly 26,000 adults, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people taking just 2,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily preserved 140 more telomere base pairs over 4 years compared to placebo. That's the equivalent of nearly 3 years of saved cellular aging from one nutrient.
Yes, and it gets deeper. A 2022 study in GeroScience used the epigenetic clock, which is the most accurate biological age test we have, and showed vitamin D supplementation in deficient adults slowed their DNA methylation age. Their cells were measurably younger than the calendar said.
Because vitamin D isn't just a vitamin. It's a hormone. It controls over 200 genes that regulate mitochondrial function, inflammation, and DNA repair. When you are deficient, there is oxidative stress. Inflammation rises and your telomeres fray faster than nature intended. A 2017 Journal of Physiology review confirmed this exact mechanism.
So here is what you do. Get your 25-hydroxyvitamin D tested. Aim for 30 to 50 nanograms per milliliter. Fish, eggs, and red meat are rich in vitamin D3. For vegans and vegetarians, 20 minutes of sun, fortified foods, and mushrooms exposed to UV are the options. And if your level is low, a clinical D3 supplement may be needed.
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