Table 1.
Association of Telomere Length With Age, Sex, Race, Health Risk Factors, Age-Related Chronic Disease, and Markers of Inflammation and Oxidation
| First Author, Year (Reference No.) | Sample | Study | Variable | Measurement Method | Association | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benetos, 2001 (53) | 193 Caucasian men and women, aged 54–58 years, not on hypertensive medication | Age, years | Southern blot | r = −0.45 (men), r = −0.48 (women) | <0.0001, <0.0001 | |
| Brouilette, 2003 (55) | 203 cases with MI before the age of 50 years; 180 controls | Age, years | Southern blot | N/A | <0.0001 | |
| Benetos, 2004 (54) | 163 men, aged 58–65 years, with chronic treated essential hypertension | Age, years | Southern blot | r = −0.25 | <0.01 | |
| Demissie, 2006 (57) | 327 Caucasian men, aged 40–89 years | FHS | Age, years | Southern blot | r = −0.41 | <0.0001 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Age, years | Southern blot | −26 bp | <0.0001 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Age, years | Southern blot | −31 bp | <0.001 |
| Hunt, 2008 (21) | 1,742 Caucasians and 711 African Americans, aged 19–93 years | NHLBI-FHS, BHS | Age, years | Southern blot | −20 bp (Caucasian), −29 bp (African American) | <0.0001, <0.0001 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Age, years | PCR | r = −0.002 (men), r = −0.230 (women) | 0.96, <0.001 |
| Cherkas, 2008 (56) | 2,401 Caucasian twins, aged 18–81 years | TwinsUK | Age, years | Southern blot | r = −0.38 | <0.001 |
| Batty, 2009 (51) | 1,542 Caucasian men, aged 45–64 years, without MI | WOSCOPS | Age, years | PCR | −8.5 bp | 0.001 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | Age, years | PCR | −0.003 T/S (men), −0.007 T/S (women) | 0.0002, <0.0001 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Age, years | PCR | r = −0.065 (men), r = −0.055 (women) | 0.017, 0.038 |
| Tang, 2010 (62) | 963 Chinese men and 904 Chinese women, aged ≥65 years | Age, years | PCR | Negatively correlated in men but not women | 0.037, 0.78 | |
| Benetos, 2001 (53) | 193 Caucasian men and women, aged 54–58 years, not on hypertensive medication | Male | Southern blot | −280 bp (age adjusted) | 0.016 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Male | Southern blot | −172 bp | <0.0001 |
| Hunt, 2008 (21) | 1,742 Caucasians and 711 African Americans, aged 19–93 years | NHLBI-FHS, BHS | Male | Southern blot | FHS: −120 bp (Caucasian), −260 bp (African American); BHS: 10 bp (Caucasian), −130 bp (African American) | FHS: <0.0001; BHS: 0.26 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Male | PCR | Shorter in men | <0.0001 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | Male | PCR | −0.041 T/S | 0.0005 |
| Tang, 2010 (62) | 963 Chinese men and 904 Chinese women, aged ≥65 years | Male | PCR | −550 bp | <0.001 | |
| Hunt, 2008 (21) | 1,742 Caucasians and 711 African Americans, aged 19–93 years | NHLBI-FHS, BHS | Caucasian race | Southern blot | FHS: −180 bp (men), −320 bp (women); BHS: −500 bp (men), −680 bp (women) | All <0.0001 |
| Chen, 2009 (63) | 472 Caucasian and 190 African-American men and women, aged 26–48 years | BHS | Caucasian race | Southern blot | −541 bp (men), −517 (women) | <0.001, <0.001 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | Caucasian race | PCR | −0.041 T/S (vs. African American), −0.044 (vs. Hispanic) | 0.025, 0.015 |
| Valdes, 2005 (65) | 1,122 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–76 years | TwinsUK | BMIa | Southern blot | −0.077 TRF | 0.031 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | BMI | Southern blot | −4 bp (men), −4 bp (women) | 0.41, 0.35 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | BMI | Southern blot | −10 bp | 0.13 |
| Hunt, 2008 (21) | 1,742 Caucasians and 711 African Americans, aged 19–93 years | NHLBI-FHS, BHS | BMI | Southern blot | r = −0.071 | 0.002 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | BMI | PCR | r = −0.041 (men), r = −0.106 (women) | 0.35, 0.021 |
| O'Donnell, 2008 (64) | 1,062 Caucasian men and women, aged 33–86 years | FHS | BMI | Southern blot | r = −0.08 | 0.01 |
| Batty, 2009 (51) | 1,542 Caucasian men, aged 45–64 years, without MI | WOSCOPS | BMI | PCR | −1 bp | 0.79 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | BMI | PCR | 0.001 T/S | 0.58 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | BMI | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.61, 0.24 | |
| Valdes, 2005 (65) | 1,122 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–76 years | TwinsUK | Smoking, pack-years | Southern blot | −0.11 TRF | 0.045 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Smoking, pack-years | Southern blot | −20 bp (men), 6 bp (women) | 0.16, 0.75 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Smoking, pack-years | Southern blot | −2 bp | 0.27 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Smoking, pack-years | PCR | r = 0.084 (men), r = −0.115 (women) | 0.46, 0.23 |
| O'Donnell, 2008 (64) | 1,062 Caucasian men and women, aged 33–86 years | FHS | Current smoking | Southern blot | −130 bp | 0.02 |
| Batty, 2009 (51) | 1,542 Caucasian men, aged 45–64 years, without MI | WOSCOPS | Ever smoking | PCR | 35 bp | 0.17 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | Smoking, pack-years | PCR | −0.0007 T/S | 0.054 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Alcohol, units/week | Southern blot | −8 bp (men), −7 bp (women) | 0.63, 0.68 |
| Batty, 2009 (51) | 1,542 Caucasian men, aged 45–64 years, without MI | WOSCOPS | Alcohol, units/week | PCR | 3 bp | 0.93 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Physical activity, MET × times/week) | Southern blot | 25 bp (men), −3 bp (women) | 0.15, 0.81 |
| Cherkas, 2008 (56) | 2,401 Caucasian twins, aged 18–81 years | TwinsUK | Physical activity, questionnaire | Southern blot | −88 to −213 bp (depending on comparison) | <0.05 |
| Diez Roux, 2009 (60) | 981 Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic men and women, aged 45–84 years | MESA | Leisure MET-minutes (1,000 seconds) | PCR | −0.009 T/S | 0.13 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African- American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Weekly physical activity, kcal | PCR | r = −0.036 (men), r = −0.029 (women) | 0.19, 0.28 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Total cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −2 bp (men), 1 bp (women) | 0.75, 0.84 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Total cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = 0.026 (men), r = 0.070 (women) | 0.58, 0.13 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | Total cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.97, 0.18 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | HDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −20 bp (men), 55 bp (women) | 0.15, 0.64 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | HDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = 0.111 (men), r = 0.072 (women) | 0.053, 0.41 |
| Chen, 2009 (63) | 472 Caucasian and 190 African-American men and women, aged 26–48 years | BHS | HDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −31 bp (childhood), −44 bp (adulthood) | 0.024, 0.058 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | HDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | PCR | Controls inverse association, cases NS | 0.046, 0.24 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | LDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −0.7 bp (men), 3 bp (women) | 0.93, 0.70 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | LDL cholesterol, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = 0.040 (men), 0.160 (women) | 0.49, 0.07 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Triglycerides, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | 2 bp (men), 1 bp (women) | 0.21, 0.83 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Triglycerides, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = −0.047 (men), r = 0.004 (women) | 0.34, 0.95 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | Triglycerides,10 mg/dL | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.48, 0.051 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Glucose, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | 4 bp (men), −25 bp (women) | 0.85, 0.29 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Glucose, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −15 bp | 0.06 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Glucose, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = −0.061 (men), r = −0.045 (women) | 0.025, 0.089 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | Glucose, 10 mg/dL | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.72, 0.87 | |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Oral glucose tolerance test, 0 minutes | PCR | r = −0.040 (men), r = −0.001 (women) | 0.41, 0.98 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Oral glucose tolerance test, 120 minutes | PCR | r = −0.202 (men), r = −0.063 (women) | 0.045, 0.45 |
| Demissie, 2006 (57) | 327 Caucasian men, aged 40–89 years | FHS | Homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance score | Southern blot | r = −0.16 | 0.007 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Insulin, 10 mg/dL | Southern blot | −100 bp | 0.009 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Insulin, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = −0.026 (men), r = 0.096 (women) | 0.65, 0.28 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Insulin, 10 mg/dL | PCR | r = −0.064 (men), r = −0.069 (women) | 0.028, 0.014 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | SBP, 10 mm Hg | Southern blot | 15 bp (men), −4 bp (women) | 0.34, 0.80 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | SBP, 10 mm Hg | Southern blot | −34 bp | 0.15 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | SBP (10 mm Hg) | PCR | r = 0.064 (men), r = −0.038 (women) | 0.15, 0.41 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | SBP, 10 mm Hg | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.09, 0.81 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | DBP, 10 mm Hg | Southern blot | 17 bp (men), −5 bp (women) | 0.40, 0.82 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | DBP, 10 mm Hg | Southern blot | −83 bp | 0.06 |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | DBP (10 mm Hg) | PCR | r = 0.013 (men), r = 0.010 (women) | 0.77, 0.82 |
| Yang, 2009 (70) | Chinese, 379 controls and 388 patients with hypertension, aged 30–80 years | DBP, 10 mm Hg | PCR | NS (controls), NS (cases) | 0.08, 0.69 | |
| Benetos, 2001 (53) | 193 Caucasian men and women, aged 54–58 years, not on hypertensive medication | Pulse pressure, mm Hg | Southern blot | −3.7/TRF (men), 0.4/TRF (women) | 0.005, NS | |
| Nordfjäll, 2008 (59) | 989 Caucasians, aged 48–68 years | MDCC, NS-MONICA | Pulse pressure, mm Hg | PCR | r = 0.075 (men), −0.056 (women) | 0.09, 0.23 |
| Benetos, 2001 (53) | 193 Caucasian men and women, aged 54–58 years, not on hypertensive medication | Pulse wave velocity, meters/second | Southern blot | −0.5/TRF (men), −0.2/TRF (women) | 0.047, NS | |
| Benetos, 2004 (54) | 163 men, aged 58–65 years, with chronic treated essential hypertension | Presence of carotid artery plaque | Southern blot | −0.22 TRF length with presence of carotid plaque | <0.05 | |
| De Meyer, 2009 (71) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Presence of carotid artery plaque | Southern blot | −0.006/TRF (men), −0.202/TRF (women) | 0.96, 0.09 |
| De Meyer, 2009 (71) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Presence of femoral artery plaque | Southern blot | −0.101/TRF (men), −0.251/TRF (women) | 0.28, 0.02 |
| De Meyer, 2009 (71) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Presence of carotid or femoral plaque | Southern blot | −0.083/TRF (men), −0.243/TRF (women) | 0.36, 0.01 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Common carotid intima-media thickness, mm | Southern blot | −260 bp | 0.10 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Internal carotid intima-media thickness, mm | Southern blot | −110 bp | 0.07 |
| O'Donnell, 2008 (64) | 1,062 Caucasian men and women, aged 33–86 years | FHS | Internal carotid intima-media thickness, mm | Southern blot | r = −0.055 | 0.15 |
| De Meyer, 2009 (71) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Femoral intima-media thickness, mm | Southern blot | −0.004/TRF (men), 0.000/TRF (women) | 0.73, 0.99 |
| De Meyer, 2009 (71) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Carotid intima-media thickness, mm | Southern blot | −0.003/TRF (men), −0.003/TRF (women) | 0.54, 0.40 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | Ankle-brachial index | Southern blot | 270 bp | 0.09 |
| Mainous, 2010 (72) | 325 adults, aged 40–64 years, free of diagnosed diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer | Coronary artery calcium | PCR | r = −0.15 | 0.009 | |
| Brouilette, 2003 (55) | 203 cases with MI before the age of 50 years; 180 controls | MI before the age of 50 years | Southern blot | −300 bp | <0.0001 | |
| Honig, 2006 (91) | 125 demented cases, 132 nondemented controls, aged 66–103 years | WHICAP | Dementia | PCR | −0.058 T/S | 0.034 |
| Honig, 2006 (91) | 125 demented cases, 132 nondemented controls, aged 66–103 years | WHICAP | Apo ɛ4 allele, ≥1 | PCR | −0.042 T/S | NS |
| Yaffe, 2011 (90) | 2,734 nondemented Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Apo ɛ4 allele, ≥1 | PCR | N/A | 0.16 |
| Yaffe, 2011 (90) | 2,734 nondemented Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | 3MS | PCR | N/A | 0.28 |
| Yaffe, 2011 (90) | 2,734 nondemented Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Digit Symbol Substitution Test | PCR | N/A | 0.02 |
| Valdes, 2007 (82) | 2,150 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–80 years | TwinsUK | Femoral neck BMD | Southern blot | r = 0.040 | 0.052 |
| Valdes, 2007 (82) | 2,150 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–80 years | TwinsUK | Forearm BMD | Southern blot | r = 0.054 | 0.013 |
| Valdes, 2007 (82) | 2,150 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–80 years | TwinsUK | Spine BMD | Southern blot | r = 0.058 | 0.005 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African- American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Hip BMD | PCR | r = −0.017 (men), r = −0.007 (women) | 0.53, 0.79 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | Femoral neck BMD | PCR | r = −0.003 (men), r = −0.016 (women) | 0.92, 0.55 |
| Tang, 2010 (62) | 963 Chinese men and 904 Chinese women, age ≥65 years | TwinsUK | Femoral neck BMD | PCR | 3 bp (men), −1 bp (women) | 0.11, 0.46 |
| Tang, 2010 (62) | 963 Chinese men and 904 Chinese women, aged ≥65 years | Hip BMD | PCR | 2 bp (men), 0 bp (women) | 0.42, 0.99 | |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | IL-6 (highest half) | Southern blot | −133 bp (men), −83 bp (women) | <0.01, >0.05 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | IL-6, pg/mL | Southern blot | −50 bp | 0.03 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African- American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | IL-6 | PCR | r = −0.074 (men), r = −0.008 (women) | 0.008, 0.77 |
| Fitzpatrick, 2007 (58) | 419 men and women, aged 65–93 years | CHS | CRP, mg/L | Southern blot | −59 bp | 0.02 |
| Richards, 2007 (80) | 2,160 Caucasian women twins, aged 18–79 years | TwinsUK | CRP | Southern blot | r = −0.05 | 0.0009 |
| Richards, 2008 (79) | 1,319 Caucasian twins, aged 18–81 years | TwinsUK | CRP | Southern blot | r = −0.02 | <0.05 |
| Sanders, 2009 (61) | 2,750 Caucasian and African-American men and women, aged 70–79 years | HABC | CRP | PCR | r = −0.051 (men), r = 0.004 (women) | 0.063, 0.88 |
| Demissie, 2006 (57) | 327 Caucasian men, aged 40–89 years | FHS | Isoprostane urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α |
Southern blot | r = −0.16 | 0.005 |
| Bekaert, 2007 (52) | 2,509 Caucasian men and women, aged 35–55 years, without overt CVD | Asklepios Study | Homocysteine | Southern blot | Data not shown | >0.25 |
| Richards, 2008 (79) | 1,319 Caucasian twins, aged 18–81 years | TwinsUK | Homocysteine (highest tertile) | Southern blot | −111 bp | 0.004 |
Abbreviations: BHS, Bogalusa Heart Study; BMD, bone mineral density; BMI, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2); bp, base pairs; CHS, Cardiovascular Health Study; CRP, C-reactive protein; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FHS, Framingham Heart Study; HABC, Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study; HDL, high density lipoprotein; IL-6, interleukin-6; LDL, low density lipoprotein; MDCC, Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort; MESA, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; MI, myocardial infarction; 3MS, Modified Mini–Mental Status Examination; N/A, not available; NHLBI-FHS, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study; NS, not significant; NS-MONICA, Northern Sweden Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TRF, terminal restriction fragment; T/S, ratio of telomere repeat copy number to single copy gene copy number; UK, United Kingdom; WHICAP, Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project; WOSCOPS, West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study.