Background: A Tetraselmis chui-derived ingredient exhibiting a high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (TSOD) has previously been shown to act as a cellular health promoter, activating cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and protecting DNA from damage, among other bioactivities. To date, the potential of TSOD to protect telomeric DNA from shortening has not been studied. Aim: In this study, potential protective effects of TSOD on telomere length were evaluated in neonatal human fibroblasts both under standard and oxidative conditions induced by H2O2. Methods: Based on cytotoxicity tests, three different dilutions of a phosphate-buffered saline extract of TSOD (TSODA: 1/160, TSODB: 1/320, TSODC: 1/640) were assessed after four and eight weeks of treatment using the proprietary telomere analysis technology. Results: Under standard culture conditions, no significant differences in telomere-related variables were observed between control and treated cells after 4 weeks. However, by week 8, cells treated with TSODA exhibited a higher 20th percentile compared to the untreated control. Under oxidative stress conditions, both TSODA and TSODC significantly increased both median telomere length and 20th percentile, and reduced critically short telomeres (Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrated a protective effect of TSOD on telomere length in human cells, supporting the potential of TSOD to combat the deleterious effects of telomere shortening, thus promoting healthy ageing and longevity.
Blázquez-Moreno et al. (Mon,) studied this question.