The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study
Abstract
Background Telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes at the end of linear chromosomes that promote chromosomal stability. Telomere shortness in human beings is emerging as a prognostic marker of disease risk, progression, and premature mortality in many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colorectal, bladder, head and neck, lung, and renal cell. Telomere shortening is counteracted by the cellular enzyme telomerase. Lifestyle factors known to promote cancer and cardiovascular disease might also adversely affect telomerase function. However, previous studies have not addressed whether improvements in nutrition and lifestyle are associated with increases in telomerase activity. We aimed to assess whether 3 months of intensive lifestyle changes increased telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).Methods 30 men with biopsy-diagnosed low-risk prostate cancer were asked to make comprehensive lifestyle changes. The primary endpoint was telomerase enzymatic activity per viable cell, measured at baseline and after 3 months. 24 patients had sufficient PBMCs needed for longitudinal analysis. This study is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website, number NCT00739791.Findings PBMC telomerase activity expressed as natural logarithms increased from 2.00 (SD 0.44) to 2.22 (SD 0.49; p=0.031). Raw values of telomerase increased from 8.05 (SD 3.50) standard arbitrary units to 10.38 (SD 6.01) standard arbitrary units. The increases in telomerase activity were significantly associated with decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (r=-0.36, p=0.041) and decreases in psychological distress (r=-0.35, p=0.047).Interpretation Comprehensive lifestyle changes significantly increase telomerase activity and consequently telomere maintenance capacity in human immune-system cells. Given this finding and the pilot nature of this study, we report these increases in telomerase activity as a significant association rather than inferring causation. Larger randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm the findings of this study.
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“Longer telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes may reflect the better health status of AAV9-mTERT treated mice compared to the AAV9-eGFP controls, in agreement with a link between health status and telomere maintenance in white blood cells (Lin et al, 2010; Ornish et al, 2008).”
From Telomerase gene therapy in adult and old mice delays aging and increases longevity without increasing cancer (2012) · cites this paper as Ornish et al, 2008
In the citing paper
“A potential limitation of this study was the lack of a control group and the fact that only 30 of 126 eligible patients agreed to participate in the study after learning the details and the fact that all participants were male, which may affect generalizability of the findings.”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Ornish et al., 2008
In the citing paper
“In a pilot non-randomized study in low-risk prostate cancer patients, Ornish et al. (2008) showed that three-months of comprehensive lifestyle changes were associated with significant increases in PBMC basal TA accompanied by a decrease in psychological distress.”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Ornish et al., 2008
Citations
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WALSH, R. N. (2011) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/a0021769 · Cited by 763
Bernardes de Jesus, B., Vera, E., Schneeberger, K., Tejera, A. M., Ayuso, E., Bosch, F., & Blasco, M. A. (2012) · EMBO Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1002/emmm.201200245 · Cited by 548
Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators
Jacobs, T. L., Epel, E. S., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. H., Wolkowitz, O. M., Bridwell, D. A., Zanesco, A. P., Aichele, S. R., Sahdra, B. K., MacLean, K. A., et al. (2011) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.09.010 · Cited by 432
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Self-citationStress exposure in intrauterine life is associated with shorter telomere length in young adulthood
Entringer, S., Epel, E. S., Kumsta, R., Lin, J., Hellhammer, D. H., Blackburn, E. H., Wüst, S., & Wadhwa, P. D. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1107759108 · Cited by 405
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Ornish, D., Lin, J., Daubenmier, J., Weidner, G., Epel, E., Kemp, C., Magbanua, M. J. M., Marlin, R., Yglecias, L., Carroll, P. R., & Blackburn, E. H.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Preventive Medicine Research Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ornish, Dean
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Lancet Oncology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-11
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1048-1057
- ISSN
- 1470-2045 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2150791953
- Cited by
- 430
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 20.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2008-12-01)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Lancet Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K01AT004199)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Keywords
- telomerase activity, lifestyle intervention, prostate cancer, telomere maintenance, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, LDL cholesterol, psychological distress, nutrition, cancer risk biomarkers, telomere shortening
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Humans, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Prostatic Neoplasms, Regression Analysis, Relaxation Therapy, Exercise, Multivariate Analysis, Telomere, Cellular Senescence, Diet, Fat-Restricted, Telomerase, Risk Reduction Behavior
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