Omega-3 fatty acids may slow aging process, research finds
Hoping to extend your life? Eat more cold water fish such as tuna or salmon and consume less corn oil.
According to research out of Ohio State University, in the category of omega fatty acids, you’re advised to take more omega-3 and less omega-6, those fatty acids derived from such foods as corn oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil. Got it? More 3, less 6. Ohio State scientists are convinced omega-3 fatty acids, found naturally in certain fishes as well as in dietary supplements have a restorative effect on ever-shortening telomeres — those DNA sequences that are known to diminish as we age. Shortened telomeres equal shortened life.
Ohio State clinical psychologist Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, lead author of the study says, “I’ve spent many years studying the relationship between stress and immune function. And I became interested in how nutrition might be a factor there. The omega-3 story is one of the most compelling stories in terms of some of the immunological effects — particularly their anti-inflammatory effects.”
While she appreciates that the science community comes to different conclusions on the benefits of ome- ga-3, Kiecolt-Glaser believes the anti-inflammatory properties in omega-3 fatty acids help preserve the length of telomeres. Inflammation speeds up cell division which is linked to shorted telomeres.
The ratio of fatty acids in our diet is out of whack, says Kiecolt-Glaser. “Those vegetable oils only really entered our diet in the early1900s and that’s when the omega-3 and omega-6 ratio, which people thought was two or three to one, rose to its current 14 or 15 to one. Omega-6 is important but we have so much of it in our diet already,” she says.
“The idea is that each time a cell divides, the caps at the end of the chromosomes shorten. The analogy I’ve always heard is that it’s like the cap at the end of a shoelace. If you lose the cap on that shoelace, it’s a non-functional shoelace.” According to Kiecolt-Glaser, “you really need the telomere cap on the end of the chromosome to maintain its stability. Shortened telomeres have been linked to mortality as well as a variety of diseases.” For her study, Kiecolt-Glaser isolated a specific group — older, perhaps overweight, generally inactive people who were otherwise in good health. She wanted to separate her study from others that investigated the effect of omega-3 on young and healthy people, who don’t have, “a good background for inflammation.” As well, she didn’t want to include people who were unhealthy and on multiple medications, which might muddy the results. Kiecolt-Glaser knows her conclusions appear to contradict studies that refute the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For example, a study of 70,000 patients published in the journal Science Daily, concluded that omega-3 supplements were not associated with, “a lower risk of all-cause death, cardiac death, sudden death, heart attack or stroke.”
“If you already have a healthy diet then the effects of omega-3 are going to be much less visible,” says Kiecolt-Glaser. “One study was out of Japan where people already have a healthier diet than we do. They also have a heck of a lot more fish in their diet. The boost you would get from additional omega-3 would be a lot smaller.”
Kiecolt-Glaser says such nutritional interventions could lower the risk of age-related diseases like coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s.