A great amount of scientific evidence supports that Oxidative Stress (OxS) can contribute to telomeric attrition and also plays an important role in the development of certain age-related diseases, among them the metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterised by clinical and biochemical alterations such as obesity, dyslipidaemia, arterial hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and insulin resistance, all of which are considered as risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases, which are associated in turn with an increase of OxS. In this sense, we review scientific evidence that supports the association between OxS with telomere length (TL) dynamics and the relationship with MetS components in aging. It was analysed whether each MetS component affects the telomere length separately or if they all affect it together. Likewise, this review provides a summary of the structure and function of telomeres and telomerase, the mechanisms of telomeric DNA repair, how telomere length may influence the fate of cells or be linked to inflammation and the development of age-related diseases, and finally, how the lifestyles can affect telomere length.

Human aging is a gradual and adaptive process characterized by a decrease in the homeostatic response, leading to biochemical and molecular changes that are driven by hallmarks of aging, such as oxidative stress (OxS), chronic inflammation, and telomere shortening. One of the diseases associated with the hallmarks of aging, which has a great impact on functionality and quality of life, is sarcopenia. However, the relationship between telomere length, sarcopenia, and age-related mortality has not been extensively studied. Moderate physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on sarcopenia, decreasing OxS and inflammation, and inducing protective effects on telomeric DNA. This results in decreased DNA strand breaks, reduced OxS and IA, and activation of repair pathways. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with an apparent increase in telomere length. This review aims to present the current state of the art of knowledge on the effect of physical exercise on telomeric maintenance and activation of repair mechanisms in sarcopenia.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a high prevalence in older adults and is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and complications of old age. It has also been related to oxidative stress (OxS) and chronic inflammation (CI) and their consequent alterations. Therefore, it is important to propose therapeutic alternatives such as the consumption of Sechium edule (Chayote), since hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and lipogenesis inhibitor properties are attributed to it. We carried out a study in 81 older adults (OA) with MetS to determine the effect of consumption of chayote powder concentrate (500 mg, three times a day) for six months, with a baseline measurement, at three and six months in an experimental group (EG) (n = 41) and a placebo group (PG) (n = 40), all with a diagnosis of MetS according to the criteria of National Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Program III (NCEP/ATP III). Anthropometric, biochemical, OxS markers, and inflammation measurements were performed on all participants, basal, three, and six months after. A statistically significant decrease was found in the concentration of lipoperoxides (TBARS), 8-isoprostanes, 8-OHdG, oxidative stress score (OSS), HbA1c, blood pressure, and in the number of MetS diagnostic criteria, as well as an increase in total antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant gap (GAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and HDL-cholesterol in EG. The results suggest that the consumption of Sechium edule powder has a hypotensive, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effect in OA with MetS and reduced the percentage of patients with MetS.

Introduction: Aging is accompanied by changes in body composition, such as an increase in fat mass (FM), a decrease in skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and muscle strength, combined with a chronic inflammatory process (CI). Objective: Determine the relationship between age and excess body fat with markers of chronic inflammation, skeletal muscle mass and strength. Methods: A cross-sectional alitical study was carried out in a convenience sample of adults 45 to 59 years old (n = 100) and older adults 60 to 74 years old (n = 133). All participants had their body composition measured with an impedance meter. They were subsequently divided into two groups: (i) with excess fat (WEF), (ii) without excess fat (NEF), in order to relate excess fat and age with inflammation, muscle mass and strength. Results: NEF adults and older adults had similar values of SMMI (9.1 ± 1.5 vs. 8.8 ± 1.3, p > 0.05) and strength (28 ± 8 vs. 27 ± 8.6, p > 0.05). Likewise, WEF adults showed significantly lower values than NEF adults in the SMMI (7.9 ± 0.8 vs. 9.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.05) and strength (28 ± 8 vs. 22 ± 5, p < 0.001). Also, WEF older adults presented significantly lower values in the SMMI (15.9 ± 1.8 vs. 22.8 ± 5.1, p < 0.05) and strength (17.9 ± 4.8 vs. 27 ± 8.6, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that excess fat mass is a risk factor that has a significantly greater influence than aging per se on the index of skeletal muscle mass and strength.

The aim was to determine the effect of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (chayote) on gene expression related to antioxidant protection mechanisms and the inflammatory process in older adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A quasi-experimental study was carried out in a convenience sample of 46 older adults diagnosed with MetS: (i) placebo group (PG; n = 20); (ii) experimental group (EG; n = 26). The clinical, biochemical, anthropometric parameters and SOD, GPx, and CAT enzyme activity, alongside total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α), and mRNA expression of SOD, GPx, CAT, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, Nrf2, NFkB p50, and NFkB p65, were measured at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. A statistically significant decrease was observed in TOS (baseline, 28.9 ± 3.6 vs. post, 23.7 ± 3.4, p < 0.01) and OSI (baseline, 24.1 ± 3.8 vs. post, 17.7 ± 4), as well as an increase in IL-6 (baseline, 10.7 ± 1.1 vs. post, 12.3 ± 2, p = 0.03), SOD activity (baseline, 167.1 ± 11.9 vs. post, 180.6 ± 7.6, p < 0.05), CAT activity (baseline, 1.0 ± 0.2 vs. post, 1.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.01), and TAS (baseline, 1.1 ± 0.1 vs. post, 1.4 ± 0.1, p < 0.01) in the EG compared to the PG. Regarding the expression of Nrf2, SOD, and IL-6, the EG showed a significant increase vs. basal levels (47%, 44%, and 43%, respectively). Our findings suggest that Sechium edule supplementation promotes the antioxidant response and decreases oxidative stress via Nrf2.

Sechium spp., is a vegetable species renowned for its pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective activity. This species can crossbreed with its wild relatives, leading to the creation of an HD-Victor hybrid with higher levels of flavonoids, cucurbitacins, and phenolic acids compared to the Sechium edule. However, the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of this hybrid are not well-known. We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of HD-Victor hybrid extract on a hepatic-damage mouse model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). We conducted a phytochemical characterization and quantified its antioxidant activity. Subsequently, we evaluated the extract at different concentrations, testing the potential to mitigate liver damage induced by CCl₄. After, we performed tests to assess liver function through AST, ALT, ALP and albumin, antioxidant levels, and histopathological examination. Our findings reveal that HD-Victor hybrid extract is rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and cucurbitacins and shows DPPH-free radical inhibition, protection in liver function, and increased antioxidant levels. Therefore, the Sechium HD-Victor hybrid extract exerts a protective effect against hepatic damage induced by oxidative stress, showing its potential as a hepatoprotective agent.