Omega 3 can slow down ageing

(CONNECT) In a clinical DO-HEALTH study, researchers at the University of Zurich(UZH) have found that taking omega 3 and vitamin D can delay biological ageing. According to a statement from the university, the study was conducted over three years with a group of 777 people over the age of 70. The participants took 2000 international units (IU) of vitamin D and/or 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids daily. The study, which was conducted for the first time with a human group following successful animal experiments, found an average slowing of biological ageing by four months.

Heike Bischoff-Ferrari's team used so-called epigenetic clocks to evaluate the ageing process. Chemical couplings of methyl groups to certain nucleotides of the DNA are measured here. The progression of this methylation can be seen as an indicator of ageing.

Analyses of blood samples showed when evaluating the epigenetic clocks that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids could delay ageing by up to four months. A combination with vitamin D and active exercise proved to be even more effective.

"There is no generally recognised gold standard for measuring biological age," says Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, pointing out the limitations of the method. "However, we have analysed the currently best validated epigenetic clocks that reflect the state of the art."

The study was conducted by UZH together with Altos Labs Cambridge. ce/ww