New Study Finds Omega-3s and Vitamin D Can Slow Biological Aging

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New findings from a study led by researchers at the University of Zurich and published in Nature Aging, suggest that taking omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D supplements can slow biological aging in older adults.

The investigation was a part of the DO-HEALTH study, a clinical trial designed to support aging European seniors. Previously, the DO-HEALTH study demonstrated that vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and regular physical activity could reduce the risk of infections, falls, cancer, and premature frailty. “These results inspired us to measure the direct influence of these three therapies on the biological aging process in the Swiss DO-HEALTH participants,” explained Bischoff-Ferrari.

To measure biological aging, researchers used epigenetic clocks, which assess DNA modifications known as methylation. According to the study, this approach quantifies the difference between biological and chronological age. The study, conducted in collaboration with Steve Horvath, PhD, senior researcher at Altos Labs Cambridge (UK) and a pioneer in epigenetic clocks, examined how these biological markers responded to specific treatments.

A total of 777 participants over the age of 70 took part in the three-year study, receiving one of eight different treatment combinations. The interventions included a daily dose of 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D, 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids from algae, and/or 30 minutes of strength training at home three times a week.

When analyzing blood samples, researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids alone slowed biological aging by up to four months across multiple epigenetic clocks, regardless of gender, age, or body mass index. The combination of omega-3s, vitamin D, and strength training proved even more effective, as confirmed by one of the four epigenetic clocks used in the study.

“This result extends our previous findings from the DO-HEALTH study, in which these three factors combined had the greatest impact on reducing the risk of cancer and preventing premature frailty over a three-year period, to slowing down the biological aging process,” said Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari. Each intervention functions through different mechanisms that complement one another, leading to an enhanced overall effect, she added.

Despite these promising results, researchers acknowledge the study’s limitations. “There is no generally accepted gold standard for measuring biological age,” explained Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari. “However, we analyzed the best currently validated epigenetic clocks, which reflect the state of the art.”

Another limitation is the study’s sample, which consisted exclusively of Swiss participants and does not fully represent the global population of older adults. To address this, the research team plans to extend their analyses to DO-HEALTH participants from Germany, France, Austria, and Portugal to account for a broader diversity of genetics and lifestyles.

Looking ahead, Bischoff-Ferrari and other researchers in the Global Health Span Extension Consortium aim to use DO-HEALTH and other global intervention studies as validation platforms for novel biomarkers of aging. The researchers said they hope the efforts will help refine methods for measuring biological age and further explore effective strategies for promoting healthy aging.