Omega-3s Help Support The Aging Process and Promote Longevity*

Isn't it true that we all wish to live long, healthy lives? It turns out that by continuously including omega-3s in our diets, we may be able to do precisely that.*

Omega-3 fatty acids are present in both plant (ALA) and marine sources and are necessary for our wellbeing (EPA and DHA). Although the link between omega-3 fatty acids and heart health has long been established, what role does getting adequate omega-3s play in living a long life? Omega-3 fatty acids have been recognized as key nutrients for prolonging longevity in studies.

What does a high omega-3 content mean in terms of longevity?

Adults with higher amounts of marine omega-3s (i.e., EPA and DHA) had the slowest rate of telomere shortening over five years, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

What exactly does that imply? Telomeres are the tips of our chromosomes that safeguard our DNA from damage. Telomere length appears to be a marker for biological aging, with the longer your telomeres, the longer your life expectancy.

The importance of boosting your omega-3 index is highlighted in this study, as it may help you live a longer and healthier life. The omega-3 index is a blood test that analyzes your omega-3 status and was co-invented by William Harris, Ph.D., FAHA. Better heart health and cardiometabolic parameters are linked to a higher omega-3 index.

In 2021, a research co-authored by Harris and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition put omega-3 status and longevity to the test. The study's purpose was to look at the lifestyle habits and omega-3 levels of persons with cardiac problems for 11 years to see how they affected their life expectancy. While there were a variety of lifestyle factors at play throughout the study that also have an impact on longevity, the findings revealed that there is a clear link between higher omega-3 levels and living longer.

How omega-3s provide support as we age.

The actual mechanisms behind how omega-3s affect longevity are still being researched, and the exact mechanics are still being debated. However, there are a number of well-studied omega-3 benefits that have been shown to help us now and later in life, including heart, brain, eye, and joint health.

Heart health is important.

While heart health is crucial throughout our lives, as we get older, it becomes even more critical to support our hearts via nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle choices. When it comes to heart health, proper omega-3 levels support everything from vascular function and a healthy inflammatory response to decreasing resting heart rate, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels.

EPA and DHA, in particular, influence these cardioprotective variables and more when ingested in the form of fatty fish or a high-quality fish oil supplement. Indeed, the marine omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been associated to improved heart health, including hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Cognitive function

Maintaining working memory and overall cognitive function is an important element of longevity, and omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in brain health. The brain is the body's fattiest organ, and it requires fatty acids to function properly—particularly DHA, which is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain and aids in the maintenance of the neurological system.

Eye health

DHA is the most abundant fatty acid in the eyes, in addition to its significant role in the brain. DHA is necessary for the optimum functioning and regeneration of rhodopsin, a visual pigment that converts light into visual pictures.

As you might expect, omega-3 is critical for eye growth and development early in life, as well as later in life when vision maintenance is a key predictor of lifespan. In fact, people who eat omega-3-rich diets are 25 to 35 percent less likely to have eye problems as they get older.

Joint support

As we get older, our joints can stiffen and become less comfortable than they were when we were younger. Fortunately, omega-3s—specifically, marine omega-3s—support antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways to improve joint health, comfort, function, and mobility.* According to a 2017 meta-analysis, using marine oil supplements (such as fish oil) with EPA + DHA has a positive effect on joint comfort.

Finally,

If it isn't obvious by now, omega-3 fatty acids are powerhouses when it comes to supporting all aspects of our health as we age. The major problem, however, is taking enough omega-3s to maintain a healthy omega-3 status throughout one's life.

While consuming two or more meals of fatty fish per week, as recommended by the American Heart Association, is a wonderful method to support healthy omega-3 levels, for many Americans, eating that much fish is simply not practical (or feasible). Furthermore, two fish per week is just a starting point—one gram or more of EPA and DHA per day is regarded a preferable daily intake for cardioprotective effects (a cornerstone of longevity)*.

Taking a high-quality omega-3 supplement on a daily basis, as several of the studies above recommend, is an easy and effective method to maintain adequate omega-3 levels. * Consider including a fish oil supplement in your daily routine, such as mindbodygreen's omega-3 potency+, for a guaranteed high-potency, sustainable, and traceable source of marine omega-3s.