Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24365661›Full record

SynthesisExperimental gerontology2014

Gender and telomere length: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Michael Gardner, David Bann, Laura Wiley, Rachel Cooper, Rebecca Hardy, Dorothea Nitsch, Carmen Martin-Ruiz, Paul Shiels, Avan Aihie Sayer, Michelangela Barbieri and 45 more

Open access · greenAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Experimental gerontology, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 312 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
312citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
15.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

312 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 510 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Highlights a Link Between Aerobic Fitness and Telomere Maintenance.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2025
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
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  7. Social support and telomere length: a meta-analysis.Journal of behavioral medicine · 2023
    Pooled it
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  11. Trial
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252 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

55 authors at 20 institutions in 12 countries.

Michael GardnerSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, UK.
David BannMRC University Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, UK.
Laura WileyInstitute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK.
Rachel CooperMRC University Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, UK.
Rebecca HardyMRC University Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, UK.
Dorothea NitschFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Carmen Martin-RuizInstitute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK.
Paul ShielsInstitute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
Avan Aihie SayerMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK.
Michelangela BarbieriDepartment of Geriatric and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Sofie BekaertClinical Research Center, Ghent University, Belgium.
Claus BischoffDanish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Angela Brooks-WilsonGenome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada.
Wei ChenTulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, Tulane University Health Sciences, New Orleans, United States.
Cyrus CooperMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK.
Kaare ChristensenDanish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Tim De MeyerClinical Research Center, Ghent University, Belgium.
Ian DearyCentre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Geoff DerMedical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK.
Ana Diez RouxDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Integrative Approaches to Health Disparities, University of Michigan, United States.
Annette FitzpatrickDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.
Anjum HajatDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Integrative Approaches to Health Disparities, University of Michigan, United States.
Julius Halaschek-WienerGenome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada.
Sarah HarrisCentre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Steven C HuntCardiovascular Genetics Division, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, United States.
Carol JaggerInstitute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK.
Hyo-Sung JeonDepartment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Robert KaplanDepartment of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, United States.
Masayuki KimuraThe Center of Human Development and Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, United States.
Peter LansdorpDivision of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Changyong LiDepartment of Anatomy, Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
Toyoki MaedaDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kyushu University, Oita, Japan.
Massimo ManginoTwin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College London, UK.
Tim S NawrotDivision of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Peter NilssonDepartment of Clinical Sciences Medicine, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Katarina NordfjallDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Sweden.
Giuseppe PaolissoDepartment of Geriatric and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Fu RenDepartment of Anatomy, Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
Karl RiabowolDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
Tony RobertsonMedical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK.
Goran RoosDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Sweden.
Jan A StaessenDivision of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Tim SpectorTwin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College London, UK.
Nelson TangDepartment of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Brad UnrynDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
Pim van der HarstDepartment of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jean WooDepartment of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Chao XingEugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States.
Mohammad E YadegarfarInstitute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK.
Jae Yong ParkDepartment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Neal YoungNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, United States.
Diana KuhMRC University Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, UK.
Thomas von ZglinickiInstitute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK.
Yoav Ben-ShlomoSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: Y.Ben-Shlomo@bristol.ac.uk.
Halcyon study team
Newcastle University · GBMedical Research Council · GBChinese University of Hong Kong · HKGhent University Hospital · BEJinzhou Medical University · CNKing's College London · GBKU Leuven · BEKyungpook National University · KRUmeå University · SEUniversity of Bristol · GBUniversity of British Columbia · CAUniversity of Calgary · CAUniversity of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" · ITUniversity of Edinburgh · GBUniversity of Michigan · USUniversity of Southern Denmark · DKBC Cancer Agency · CAChief Scientist Office · GBKyushu University · JPLund University · SE

Funding

Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (UL1)UL1RR025005 · NCRR · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI FORD, DANIEL ERNEST · 2007 to 2011
$75.8M
CTSA INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCHUL1RR024156 · NCRR · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI GINSBERG, HENRY N · 2006 to 2011
$53.0M
Exceptional Survival: Trajectories to Functional Aging (CHS All Stars)R01AG023629 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI NEWMAN, ANNE B. · 2004 to 2016
$9.5M
CHS Events Follow-up StudyR01HL080295 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI PSATY, BRUCE M · 2009 to 2014
$6.3M
CHS Events Follow-up StudyU01HL080295 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI PSATY, BRUCE M · 2005 to 2008
$4.6M
Role of EIIIA fibronectin in pulmonary fibrosisR01HL085083 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI WHITE, ERIC S · 2007 to 2011
$1.9M
Telomere Attrition and Cardiovascular DiseaseR01HL080698 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI FITZPATRICK, ANNETTE L. · 2005 to 2008
$1.6M
Adjunctive Use of Apyrase to Fibrinolytic TherapyR44HL095169 · NHLBI · APT THERAPEUTICS, INC. · PI CHEN, RIDONG · 2012 to 2013
$1.3M
SUBCLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE STUDYN01HC095166 · HC · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT &ST AGRIC COLLEGE · PI TRACY, RUSSELL P · 1999 to 2001
$758k
SUBCLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE STUDY-FIELD CENTERN01HC095162 · HC · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI SZKLO, MOYSES A · 1999 to 2000
$694k
SUBCLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE STUDY--FIELD CENTERN01HC095161 · HC · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI SHEA, STEVEN · 1999 to 2001
$642k
SUBCLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE STUDY--FIELD CENTERN01HC095165 · HC · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY · PI BURKE, GREGORY L · 1999 to 2001
$616k
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/F019394/1Chief Scientist Office CZB/4/505Chief Scientist Office ETM/55Chief Scientist Office SPHSU2Medical Research Council G0500997Medical Research Council G0601333Medical Research Council G0700704Medical Research Council MC_PC_13040Medical Research Council MC_U147585824Medical Research Council MC_UP_A540_1021Medical Research Council MC_UP_A620_1014Medical Research Council MC_UP_A620_1015Medical Research Council MC_UU_12011/1Medical Research Council MC_UU_12011/2Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/5Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/7Medical Research Council MR/K007017/1Medical Research Council MR/K023209/1Medical Research Council MR/K026992/1NCRR NIH HHS UL1 RR024156NCRR NIH HHS UL1-RR-024156NCRR NIH HHS UL1 RR025005NCRR NIH HHS UL1-RR-025005NHLBI NIH HHS HHSN268200800007CNHLBI NIH HHS HHSN268201200036CNHLBI NIH HHS HL080295NHLBI NIH HHS HL80698NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC055222NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085079NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085080NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085081NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085082NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085083NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC085086NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC095159NHLBI NIH HHS N01 HC095169NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95159NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95160NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95161NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95162NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95163NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95164NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95165NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95166NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95167NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95168NHLBI NIH HHS N01-HC-95169NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL080295NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL080698NHLBI NIH HHS U01 HL080295NIA NIH HHS AG023629NIA NIH HHS R01 AG023629NIA NIH HHS R56 AG023629Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIt is widely believed that females have longer telomeres than males, although results from studies have been contradictory.

methodsWe carried out a systematic review and meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that in humans, females have longer telomeres than males and that this association becomes stronger with increasing age. Searches were conducted in EMBASE and MEDLINE (by November 2009) and additional datasets were obtained from study investigators. Eligible observational studies measured telomeres for both females and males of any age, had a minimum sample size of 100 and included participants not part of a diseased group. We calculated summary estimates using random-effects meta-analyses. Heterogeneity between studies was investigated using sub-group analysis and meta-regression.

resultsMeta-analyses from 36 cohorts (36,230 participants) showed that on average females had longer telomeres than males (standardised difference in telomere length between females and males 0.090, 95% CI 0.015, 0.166; age-adjusted). There was little evidence that these associations varied by age group (p=1.00) or cell type (p=0.29). However, the size of this difference did vary by measurement methods, with only Southern blot but neither real-time PCR nor Flow-FISH showing a significant difference. This difference was not associated with random measurement error.

conclusionsTelomere length is longer in females than males, although this difference was not universally found in studies that did not use Southern blot methods. Further research on explanations for the methodological differences is required.

Indexed as

Sex FactorsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAgingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTelomereEpidemiologyGenderMeasurement methodsSystematic review and meta-analysisTelomere length

Identifiers

PMID24365661
PMCPMC4523138
OpenAlexW1997389210

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.