Vitamin D supplements may help safeguard the protective caps on our chromosomes that influence the pace of aging, raising hopes that the “sunshine vitamin” could support healthier longevity, according to a recent study.

Researchers reported that taking 2,000 IU (international units, a standard vitamin measurement) of vitamin D each day helped preserve telomeres, the small structures at the ends of chromosomes that act like the plastic tips of shoelaces, shielding DNA from damage during cell division.

Each of our 46 chromosomes ends with a telomere, which gradually shortens every time a cell divides. Once telomeres become critically short, cells lose the ability to divide and ultimately die.

Shortened telomeres have been associated with several major age-related conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. Factors such as smoking, chronic stress, and depression appear to accelerate this process, while inflammatory processes in the body also contribute to telomere loss.