UCSF

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) over a short time period (e.g. 1 week). LTL shortening is accelerated by exposure to inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. METHODS: In the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction study that was conducted with 43 Black and Latinx children over a 9-day period, we evaluated the relationship between metabolic health at baseline and metabolic changes and LTL at baseline and %LTL change over the follow-up period. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between metabolic correlates and LTL at baseline and LTL changes over 9 days. RESULTS: Overall children lost - 0.05 ± 0.14 T/S units or - 2.98 ± 8.74% total change over the follow-up period. Higher concentrations of HDL-C, APO-AI and a greater % of large HDL-C at baseline were associated with reduced LTL attrition rates at day 10 (p < 0.01; p < 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively). Increases in APO-AI over the follow-up period were associated with increased LTL attrition over the follow-up period (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this short term isocaloric fructose restriction study, LTL at baseline and changes in LTL over 9 days were associated with HDL-C and APO-AI and not with any other non-HDL-C lipids. Additional, larger studies are necessary to better understand the interplay between short term fructose restriction, LTL changes and HDL-C/APO-AI.