Key result
Higher plasma aldosterone concentrations were associated with shorter age-adjusted white blood cell telomere length (6.36 kb in the highest vs 6.74 kb in the lowest quartile; p=0.025).
Why the study?
Is higher plasma aldosterone concentration associated with shorter telomere length in white blood cells in normotensive and mildly hypertensive men?
Cross-Sectional (n=75)
Is higher plasma aldosterone concentration associated with shorter telomere length in white blood cells in normotensive and mildly hypertensive men?
Higher plasma aldosterone levels are associated with shorter white blood cell telomere length, suggesting a link between aldosterone-induced oxidative stress and accelerated biological aging.
May link aldosterone to cellular aging; leaves open causality and needs prospective confirmation before clinical consideration.
BACKGROUND: Aldosterone accelerates cardiovascular aging by mechanisms that generate reactive oxygen species. Telomere length in white blood cells (WBCs) may be a bioindicator that registers the accruing burden of systemic oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to examine the relationship between plasma aldosterone and telomere length in WBCs. METHODS: We studied 75 normotensive and never-treated mildly hypertensive men whose blood was drawn for the measurements of plasma aldosterone concentration and the terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length in WBCs. RESULTS: The slope of the TRF-age relationship in the entire cohort showed a decrease in telomere length of 26 +/- 5 base pairs per year (r = -0.46, p <.001). Age-adjusted TRF length was the longest in the lowest aldosterone quartile (6.74 +/- 0.12 kb) and shortest in the highest aldosterone quartile (6.36 +/- 0.11 kb), with intermediate TRF lengths in the second and third aldosterone quartiles (analysis of variance [ANOVA] trend test, p =.025). In telomeric attrition equivalence, participants in the upper aldosterone quartile were 15 years older than their peers in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: The inverse relationship between aldosterone and WBC telomere length suggests not only that aldosterone is pro-oxidant but that elevated concentrations of this hormone might be linked to a higher rate of telomere attrition and perhaps increased biological aging in humans.
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Bénétos et al. (2005) conducted a cross-sectional in Normotension and mild hypertension (n=75). Plasma aldosterone concentration vs. Lowest aldosterone quartile was evaluated on Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length in white blood cells (p=0.025). Higher plasma aldosterone concentrations were associated with shorter age-adjusted white blood cell telomere length (6.36 kb in the highest vs 6.74 kb in the lowest quartile; p=0.025).
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