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Many people strive to slow down aging, and recent research points to omega-3 supplements as a potential aid in this endeavor. Could these essential fatty acids, abundant in oily fish and readily available as supplements, help maintain youthful cells for an extended period? Research has shown that vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids can slow biological aging in animals, but it was uncertain whether these benefits would extend to humans as well.
A recent study indicates that combining omega-3 and vitamin D supplements with regular exercise could slow biological aging by several months over three years. This conclusion comes from analyzing data from the DO-HEALTH trial, which assessed the effects of supplements and exercise on older adults from 2012 to 2014 in five European countries.
Omega-3 fatty acids are widely recognized for their benefits to brain, heart, and joint health. However, these recent findings suggest that they may also play a role in slowing down the biological aging process, potentially reducing the risk of conditions like heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's.
The study analyzed data from more than 700 participants, all aged 70 or older. They consumed daily supplements of 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D and/or 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids sourced from algae or a placebo. Additionally, they engaged in 30 minutes of home-based strength training three times a week. To evaluate biological aging, researchers collected blood samples from participants at the start and end of the study. These samples were analyzed using four different biological clocks.
Upon analyzing the blood samples, researchers discovered that consuming omega-3 fatty acids decelerated biological aging by up to four months across various epigenetic clocks, and this effect was consistent regardless of the subjects' age, gender, or body mass index. Moreover, the trio of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and strength training showed even greater effectiveness, according to one of the four epigenetic clocks utilized.
The results strongly indicate that omega-3 fatty acids can slow biological aging in humans, and that combining them with vitamin D and exercise may enhance this effect even further. While additional research is necessary, these well-established strategies can still be adopted.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Individual and additive effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise on DNA methylation clocks of biological aging in older adults from the DO-HEALTH trial
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