Omega -3 dose slows biological aging

A daily omega -3 supplement slows down biological aging in older people, especially if combined with vitamin D and exercise.

We already knew that the “good” fat found in omega-3S-seeds, nuts and some fish could promote immunity, heart health and brain function.

They are also associated with change “Epignetic” MarkerChemical tags on DNA that change gene activity and in turn, how cells behave. This shows that omega -3S reduces speed Biological old ageOften how quickly someone’s body is deteriorating compared to the normal population, it is defined as a solution.

To push it forward, Heik Biscoff-Ferrari At the University of Zurich and his colleagues divided 777 people in Switzerland, at the age of 70 to 91, in eight groups. They also wanted to find out how omega -3 can work with vitamin D supplements and exercise.

“Omega -3 plays on many trags of aging, such as anti -inflammatory. Similarly, there are many benefits of vitamin D and exercise, ”says Bist-Ferrari. “We thought, if you play on each of these differences, do you get an adative benefit?”

Some participants were already taking these supplements or were training power at the beginning of the study. Bischoff-Ferri says, it was not moral to tell them to stop exercising or stop taking some supplements, so they were allowed to continue.

At the top of its existing lifestyle habits, each group was asked to take different combinations of 1-gram doses of omega-3, placebo tablets and 2000 international units of vitamin D. In addition, some groups were instructed to 30 minutes to 30 minutes. Power training three times a week.

For example, some people were asked to take omega -3 pills, but to perform vitamin D supplements or any additional power training, while others were asked to add to strength training and take vitamin D. , But not omega -3.

At the beginning of the study, the researchers estimated the biological ages of the participants using the first developed “epigenetic watches” by the team and other researchers. These analyzed DNA markers asked methyl groups in their blood samples, which usually deteriorate with age, spoil the cell function.

Three years later, by doing the same, scientists found that the participants who were asked to take omega -3 were only about 3 months younger, on average, compared to those who were given only placebo bullets. . They were responsible for factors that could affect the results, such as the real age, gender, weight and height of the participants.

“This is the biggest test that today we have an indication that a simple supplement contributes to slowing down biological aging,” says Bist-Ferrari.

What is more, people who take omega -3 with vitamin D and work even at a young age than those who did not introduce any of these habits as part of the test. “The effect was somewhat more pronounced, almost four months of rejuvenation,” Bistoff-Firari.

These effects may look small but may be important for some, say Richard Sio King’s College at London. “For an older person, in about three months, a very old age may decline, so it becomes more important,” they say.

But epigenetic watches are not an ideal way of biological aging. “Just because on your DNA, biomarkers indicate that you are similar to someone who is small, it does not mean that you are somehow healthy,” says Sio.

Further research should assess what changes are meant for cognition, exercise ability and heart health, they say. The team of Bischoff-Ferrari is now analyzing the data of participants on such results.

Another limit of study is that participants were relatively healthy and active, and mostly vitamin D was not decreased. Further studies that include people without these characteristics, and who are small and live in other countries, are needed, Bist-Ferrari says.