Telomere length in Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males aged 40 years and above

Winson, Pakamas and Leelahagul, Preeya and Taweewongsounton, Aruchalean and Puenputtho, Wutarak and Bovornkitti, Somchai and Poungvarin, Niphon (2022) Telomere length in Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males aged 40 years and above. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Malaysia), 28 (3). pp. 383-393. ISSN 1394 – 035X

Introduction: The daily lifestyles of Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males differ due to Buddhist practices, which potentially affect telomere length. Telomeres are DNA compounds located at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. This study investigated the difference in telomere length between Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males aged ≥40 years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 100 Thai Buddhist monks aged ≥40 years who had been ordained for more than five years and 100 Thai males aged ≥40 years. General information and health information were assessed by questionnaire. Nutritional status was determined by body composition and blood chemistry parameters. Telomere length was measured by Monochrome Multiplex Real- Time Quantitative PCR and expressed as T/S ratio. Results: Mean telomere length of Thai Buddhist monks was longer than that of Thai males (1.08±0.18 vs. 1.02±0.17; p<0.050). In both groups, the mean telomere length in subjects aged ≥60 years was shorter than that in subjects aged 40-59 years (p<0.010). Alcohol consumption, which affected Thai males (p<0.050), but meditation tend to slow down the shortening of telomeres (r=0.167; p<0.050) in both groups. Conclusion: Age was the parameter that affected telomere length the most. Furthermore, various factors in the Buddhist monk group, such as a peaceful lifestyle, meditation, non-alcohol consumption, and fewer underlying diseases, could explain for the longer telomere lengths in this group.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/28-3/V...

Abstract

Introduction: The daily lifestyles of Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males differ due to Buddhist practices, which potentially affect telomere length. Telomeres are DNA compounds located at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. This study investigated the difference in telomere length between Thai Buddhist monks and Thai males aged ≥40 years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 100 Thai Buddhist monks aged ≥40 years who had been ordained for more than five years and 100 Thai males aged ≥40 years. General information and health information were assessed by questionnaire. Nutritional status was determined by body composition and blood chemistry parameters. Telomere length was measured by Monochrome Multiplex Real- Time Quantitative PCR and expressed as T/S ratio. Results: Mean telomere length of Thai Buddhist monks was longer than that of Thai males (1.08±0.18 vs. 1.02±0.17; p<0.050). In both groups, the mean telomere length in subjects aged ≥60 years was shorter than that in subjects aged 40-59 years (p<0.010). Alcohol consumption, which affected Thai males (p<0.050), but meditation tend to slow down the shortening of telomeres (r=0.167; p<0.050) in both groups. Conclusion: Age was the parameter that affected telomere length the most. Furthermore, various factors in the Buddhist monk group, such as a peaceful lifestyle, meditation, non-alcohol consumption, and fewer underlying diseases, could explain for the longer telomere lengths in this group.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	telomeres
AGROVOC Term:	DNA
AGROVOC Term:	age
AGROVOC Term:	health
AGROVOC Term:	nutritional status
AGROVOC Term:	biological properties
AGROVOC Term:	quality of life
AGROVOC Term:	longevity
Geographical Term:	Thailand
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	27 Apr 2026 02:35
Last Modified:	27 Apr 2026 02:35
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3107

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