Experts have long been boasting about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. This compound is well-known for its positive effects on cardiovascular health, but its impact may be even more complex and extensive than previously thought.
The study. A recent paper published in the journal Nature Aging shows that omega-3 fatty acids can slow down our epigenetic clock, which is related to biological aging. Participants in the study underwent several treatments that combined omega-3 supplements with vitamin D and exercise.
Omega 3. Omega-3 fats are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids typically found in fish, particularly species such as albacore tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and trout. However, they can also be found in other foods, including walnuts, flaxseed oil, soybeans, and chia seeds.
Over the years, scientists have discussed the beneficial impact of omega-3 fats on cardiovascular health. They lower blood triglyceride levels, reduce the likelihood of arrhythmias, and help prevent plaque accumulation in the arteries. Additionally, omega-3 fats can assist in lowering blood pressure.
777 participants. The study, conducted over three years as part of the DO-HEALTH project, involved 777 participants. They were adults ages 70 or older who received a combination of 1 gram of omega-3, 2,000 international units of vitamin D, and/or a home exercise program consisting of three 30-minute sessions per week.
Four measures. Researchers used four measures to assess biological age: PhenoAge, GrimAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE “clocks.” They found that omega-3 fatty acids significantly affected three of these measures (PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE). In contrast, no notable effects were observed when vitamin D was administered as the sole treatment.
The team also quantified how much omega-3 intake “slowed” biological aging. Over the three-year study, participants who consumed omega-3 saw their aging process slow by the equivalent of around 2.9 to 3.8 months.
“This result extends our previous findings from the DO-HEALTH study, in which these three factors combined had the greatest impact on reducing the risk of cancer and preventing premature frailty over a three-year period, to slowing down the biological aging process,” study author Heike Bischoff-Ferrari said in a press release.
Hacking the biological clock. Measuring biological age is a complex task. In their study, researchers employed several methods to create an accurate representation of people’s actual aging, but they acknowledge that this strategy has its limitations.
In fact, this limitation is one reason the team plans to continue exploring the relationship between fatty acid intake and improvements in life expectancy and quality of life. Its approach goes beyond specific diseases and addresses a broader yet crucial aspect of health.
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