Q: I’ve seen several posts online claiming that vitamin D can reverse aging. Is that true?
Vitamin D may help delay certain signs of aging if you are deficient. When levels are adequate, however, there is no convincing evidence that extra intake can actually reverse or significantly slow the aging process.
For example, vitamin D supports the production of collagen and elastin. Insufficient levels often result in more pronounced skin aging. One key marker of aging is telomere length. Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes, shortening with each cell division. As they become shorter, DNA errors and mutations accumulate, contributing to cellular dysfunction.
Factors such as sleep loss, stress, pollution, processed foods, and inactivity can accelerate telomere shortening. Conversely, resistance training and regular exercise have been shown to reduce the rate of telomere attrition.
In July, researchers examined white blood cells from over 900 participants in a larger trial on vitamin D and omega‑3 supplementation. Half of the participants received 2,000 IU of vitamin D₃ daily.
Those who took the supplements experienced a loss of only 140 fewer DNA base pairs, lowering the risk of errors that lead to cellular problems. They also had longer telomeres, which fuels the idea that vitamin D can help slow aging.
Telomere shortening is just one of approximately 12 proposed mechanisms of aging. While each mechanism has merits and limitations, scientists remain divided on the primary drivers of aging.