Effects of lifestyle on telomere length: A study on the Korean population

Telomere length is a known indicator of biological aging, typically decreasing with age. Biological age is a benchmark for assessing an individual’s health and aging. Correlations between telomere length and lifestyle factors have primarily been investigated from the perspective of a single variable and predominantly examined in postmenopausal women in Korea. This study aimed to analyze the effects of multiple lifestyle factors on telomere length in a diverse Korean population comprising 368 healthy adults (174 men and 194 women). We measured anthropometric and blood-related parameters and collected data on lifestyle-related factors, such as exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, and stress, using surveys. Telomere length was quantified using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the relationship between lifestyle factors and telomere length was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses (p-value <0.10). Our findings indicated that telomere age, derived from telomere length, significantly increased with each adverse lifestyle factor. For men, significant contributors included exercise, smoking, and stress, whereas for women, significant contributors were exercise, alcohol consumption, sleep, and stress. The results showed that lifestyle and biological age considerably affected telomere age and accelerated the aging process. These results emphasize the importance of lifestyle in the management of biological aging.