Vitamin D supplements could help protect the caps on our chromosomes that slow ageing , sparking hopes the sunshine vitamin might keep us healthier for longer, a recent study suggests. The researchers discovered that taking 2,000 IU (international units, a standard measure for vitamins ) of vitamin D daily helped maintain telomeres – the tiny structures that act like plastic caps on shoelaces, protecting our DNA from damage every time cells divide. Telomeres sit at the end of each of our 46 chromosomes, shortening every time a cell copies itself. When they become too short, cells can no longer divide and eventually die. Scientists have linked shorter telomeres to some of our most feared diseases of ageing , including cancer , heart disease and osteoarthritis . Smoking , chronic stress and depression all appear to speed up telomere shortening, while inflammatory processes in the body also take their toll.…