A daily dose of omega-3 may slow the aging process, according to a large clinical trial aimed at extending human life expectancy.
Healthy elderly individuals who took one gram of the essential fatty acid for three years aged three months less than others in the trial, as measured by biological markers. Vitamin D supplementation and regular exercise increased the effect to nearly four months, researchers found.
Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, one of the study’s authors and a professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Zurich, said: “Although the effects may seem small, if maintained, they could have relevant effects on population health.”
Most previous research on longevity and omega-3 has been observational, meaning they suggest—but do not confirm—a link between the nutrient and certain anti-aging benefits.
Research links diets rich in omega-3 to reduced inflammation, better joint health, lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and a lower risk of dementia.
If further studies are conducted, omega-3 could be an attractive and accessible alternative to the expensive anti-aging treatments that are currently in vogue.
Previous studies had already indicated that omega-3, an unsaturated fatty acid found in oily fish and other foods such as nuts and seeds, could slow the aging process. But it was unclear whether humans would see any significant benefits from consuming it in supplemental doses.
This latest work raises the prospect of cheap and readily available ways to improve life expectancy, which, even if modest at the individual level, could be valuable on a population scale. However, the results are preliminary, and it is still unclear whether any slowing of the aging process translates into people living healthier for longer.
Source: The Guardian