Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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25.12.2008 |
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Physical exercise delays molecular aging by ten years
If you are physically very active, the chances are your genetic material is ten years younger than it would be if you spent your life as a couch potato, researchers at King’s College London conclude in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The British researchers measured the length of the telomeres in 2400 twins for whom they had determined how much physical activity they had had in the previous year.
Telomeres
Study
Results
As you can see, the researchers corrected for bodyweight, smoking and social environment [SES = socio economic score]. The researchers did so because there are studies that indicate that smoking and overweight accelerate the erosion of telomeres [Lancet. 2005 Aug 20-26;366(9486):662-4.], as does chronic stress [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Dec 7;101(49):17312-5.].
The length of the telomeres in blood cells is also genetically determined. Some studies suggest that heredity determines the length for almost eighty percent. If you look at the effect of physical activity on telomere length in this light, then it would seem that physical activity is not an important factor. This is not the case, according to the researchers: they say physical activity reduces genetic aging by ten years.
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