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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(01): 29-33
DOI: 10.1055/a-1510-9259
Physiology & Biochemistry

Telomere Length, SIRT1, and Insulin in Male Master Athletes: The Path to Healthy Longevity?

Samuel S. Aguiar 
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
2   Physical Education Department, University Center – UDF, DF, Brazil
,
Thiago S. Rosa 
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
Rodrigo V. P. Neves
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
Patrício L. A. Leite
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
Larissa A. Maciel
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
Sara D. Gutierrez
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
Erica C. Rosa
3   Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
,
Rosângela V. Andrade
4   Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
,
Hans Degens
5   Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine, Manchester Metropolitan University
6   Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas
,
Marko T. Korhonen
7   Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland
,
John E. Lewis
8   Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables Florida, United States
,
Herbert G. Simões
1   Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, DF, Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding: This work was funded by the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAP/DF) with grants from: demanda espontânea – Edital 04/2017, protocol number 0193.001762/2017. The authors are thankful to CAPES and CNPq for granting scholarships.
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Abstract

Lower SIRT1 and insulin resistance are associated with accelerated telomere shortening. This study investigated whether the lifestyle of master athletes can attenuate these age-related changes and thereby slow aging. We compared insulin, SIRT1, and telomere length in highly trained male master athletes (n=52; aged 49.9±7.2 yrs) and age-matched non-athletes (n=19; aged 47.3±8.9 yrs). This is a cross-sectional study, in which all data were collected in one visit. Overnight fasted SIRT1 and insulin levels in whole blood were assessed using commercial kits. Relative telomere length was determined in leukocytes through qPCR analyses. Master athletes had higher SIRT1, lower insulin, and longer telomere length than age-matched non-athletes (p<0.05 for all). Insulin was inversely associated with SIRT1 (r=−0.38; p=0.001). Telomere length correlated positively with SIRT1 (r=0.65; p=0.001), whereas telomere length and insulin were not correlated (r=0.03; p=0.87). In conclusion, master athletes have higher SIRT1, lower insulin, and longer telomeres than age-matched non-athletes. Furthermore, SIRT1 was negatively associated with insulin and positively associated with telomere length. These findings suggest that in this sample of middle-aged participants reduced insulin, increased SIRT1 activity, and attenuation of biological aging are connected.

Key words

aging - running - sirtuins - anti-aging - lifelong exercise


Publication History

Received: 09 March 2021

Accepted: 02 May 2021

Article published online:
13 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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