此研究將在衰老研究領域激起更多爭論,，引發(fā)更多研究
圖片說明：經(jīng)常不運動會加速老化。
（圖片來源：GETTY）
生物谷報道：英國科學家近日研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，從生物學意義上來說,，經(jīng)常久坐的人要比常常運動的人“老”上10年。相關論文發(fā)表在1月28日的《內科醫(yī)學檔案》（Archives of Internal Medicine）上,。
領導此次研究的是倫敦圣·托馬斯醫(yī)院雙胞胎研究小組的Tim Spector,。研究人員查訪了2401個雙胞胎的運動水平，并評估了他們端粒的長度,。端粒長度隨人壽命的增高而縮短,，可作為老化的標記。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，平均來說,，最活躍組（一周鍛煉超過3小時20分鐘）的端粒要比最不活躍組（一周鍛煉少于16分鐘）的端粒長出200個核苷,。研究人員認為，“這種差別意味著從生物學來說,，不活躍的人要比活躍的人老上10年,。”
研究小組目前對于活動水平能否直接影響端粒長度并不確定。不過,，研究人員認為這是最可能的一種解釋,，同時他們還考慮了吸煙、肥胖,、社會地位及其它可能的混淆因素的影響,，修正了統(tǒng)計結果。
研究人員同時也考慮了不活躍影響端粒長度的幾種方式,。比如,，已知細胞更新越快，端?？s短速度越快,，所以不活躍的人可能具有較高的細胞更新速度；另一種可能的解釋來自氧化應激（oxidative stress）,，它會產(chǎn)生更多的氧原子和氧分子來壓迫細胞,。Spector說，“很可能我們需要鍛煉以降低氧化應激,。”
在同一期的《內科醫(yī)學檔案》中,，美國國立衰老研究所流行病學和人口統(tǒng)計學部主任Jack Guralnick就此次研究發(fā)表的社論認為，還需要更多的工作以確定運動和端粒長度之間是否存在因果聯(lián)系,。
他說：“這是一個引人關注的發(fā)現(xiàn),，統(tǒng)計學顯示的結果相當清楚。但是其它一些疾病因素并沒有考慮進修正結果,，它們有可能導致了這種聯(lián)系,。而在這類研究中要證明因果聯(lián)系幾乎是不可能的。”
Spector承認,，他的這項研究將會在衰老研究領域激起更多的爭論,。不過有科學家表示，不論此次的結果將來能否得到證明,，都會在該領域引發(fā)更多的研究,。（科學網(wǎng) 梅進/編譯）
（《內科醫(yī)學檔案》（Archives of Internal Medicine），2008;168(2):154-158,，Lynn F. Cherkas,，Tim D. Spector）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 168 No. 2, January 28, 2008
The Association Between Physical Activity in Leisure Time and Leukocyte Telomere Length
Lynn F. Cherkas, PhD; Janice L. Hunkin, BSc; Bernet S. Kato, PhD; J. Brent Richards, MD; Jeffrey P. Gardner, PhD; Gabriela L. Surdulescu, MSc; Masayuki Kimura, MD, PhD; Xiaobin Lu, MD; Tim D. Spector, MD, FRCP; Abraham Aviv, MD
Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(2):154-158.
Background Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for many aging-related diseases. Leukocyte telomere dynamics (telomere length and age-dependent attrition rate) are ostensibly a biological indicator of human aging. We therefore tested the hypothesis that physical activity level in leisure time (over the past 12 months) is associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in normal healthy volunteers.
Methods We studied 2401 white twin volunteers, comprising 2152 women and 249 men, with questionnaires on physical activity level, smoking status, and socioeconomic status. Leukocyte telomere length was derived from the mean terminal restriction fragment length and adjusted for age and other potential confounders.
Results Leukocyte telomere length was positively associated with increasing physical activity level in leisure time (P < .001); this association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status, and physical activity at work. The LTLs of the most active subjects were 200 nucleotides longer than those of the least active subjects (7.1 and 6.9 kilobases, respectively; P = .006). This finding was confirmed in a small group of twin pairs discordant for physical activity level (on average, the LTL of more active twins was 88 nucleotides longer than that of less active twins; P = .03).
Conclusions A sedentary lifestyle (in addition to smoking, high body mass index, and low socioeconomic status) has an effect on LTL and may accelerate the aging process. This provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potentially antiaging effect of regular exercise.
Author Affiliations: Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, England (Drs Cherkas, Kato, Richards, and Spector and Mss Hunkin and Surdulescu); and The Center of Human Development and Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark (Drs Gardner, Kimura, Lu, and Aviv).
