A healthy dose of sunshine may be the secret to staying young, British scientists have revealed.
Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.
Researchers from King's College London studied 2,160 women aged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres - a biological marker of ageing found in DNA. As people get older their telomeres get shorter and they become more susceptible to certain illnesses.
But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres - a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.
The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.
Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said: "These results are exciting because they demonstrate for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.
"This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."
He said further studies are required to confirm the findings.
Professor Tim Spector, head of KCL's twin research unit, and a co-author of the report, added: "Although it might sound absurd, it's possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process."
Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 per cent of the body's supply, but lower levels can also be obtained through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals.
Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.
英国的科学家最近透露在健康范围内的阳光也许是保持青春的秘密所在。
根据这项研究，维他命D是在皮肤对于阳光反应的自然产物，也许可以减缓老化的进程，并且可以预防心脏的发生。
来自伦敦国王学院的研究者观察了18岁至79岁之间的2160名妇女端粒——一种在DNA上的衰老标记——的变化情况，发现随着人类的衰老，端粒会慢慢变短而且更易患某些疾病。
但是这项研究还发现体内维他命D水平较高的女性拥有相对比较长的端粒结构，这是一种更年轻更健康的信号。
这项研究暗示着维他命D也许有助于减缓DNA的老化，从而减缓整个机体的老化。
主要研究者Brent Richards博士说：“这是令人兴奋的结果因为它第一次揭示了含有高水平维他命D的人比含有低水平维他命D的人要衰老的慢。”
“这有助于解释维他命D是如何预防诸如心脏病和癌症之类与衰老有关疾病的。”
他还说这一发现还需要更进一步的研究来证实。
Tim Spector教授，伦敦国王学院兄弟研究机构的领导人，这一报告的共同作者还说：“虽然这听起来有些荒谬，但是阳光的确有可能在提高我们患皮肤癌的同时可以减缓衰老的进程。”
通过阳光刺激皮肤产生的维他命D可以提供人体90%的需要，但是其也可以通过鱼类，鸡蛋和谷类来提供。
其他的研究已经暗示着维他命在防治癌症和心脏病的方面起着重要作用。
