Body mass index and leukocyte telomere length in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (mostly cross-sectional)
PubMed 24165286 · doi:10.1111/obr.12126
What was done
Systematic review and meta-analysis searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Knowledge to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in adults. Pooled correlation and regression coefficients were calculated separately for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.
What was found
Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria, with 16 eligible for quantitative meta-analysis (including two longitudinal studies). In cross-sectional studies, BMI showed an inverse association with LTL: pooled correlation coefficient was -0.057 (95% CI: -0.102 to -0.012) and pooled regression coefficient was -0.008 kBP kg m⁻² (95% CI: -0.016 to 0.000). The two longitudinal studies (n = 70 and n = 311) evaluated different age ranges and yielded inconsistent results. No gender difference was observed.
Why it matters
This review synthesizes quantitative evidence linking higher body mass index to shorter leukocyte telomeres in adults, providing observational support for connections between adiposity and cellular aging biomarkers.
Limits
The evidence relies almost entirely on cross-sectional studies, preventing causal inference. Longitudinal data are extremely limited (two small studies with differing results). Between-study variation was present, and the abstract notes residual confounding requires clarification through larger longitudinal studies with age- and sex-stratified controls.
Cited by
- supports Multiple meta-analyses show an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and telomere length.