SIB #450- Omega 3 May Slow Cellular Aging
The Study: Omega-3 supplementation and stress reactivity of cellular aging biomarkers: an ancillary substudy of a randomized, controlled trial in midlife adults
Overview: This study is a randomized, controlled trial which looked at the “impact of omega-3 supplementation on cellular aging-related biomarkers”.
Key Points:
· Previous studies have shown a positive relationship between higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, reduced inflammation, cardiovascular stress reactivity and longer telomeres*.
*Telomeres are a widespread genetic feature found at the ends of chromosomes and play an important role in cell division. Telomere length tends to shorten with age and shortened telomeres are associated failure of cell division, early cellular death (apoptosis), cellular mutation and shortened life span. (Italics ours)
· This study examined the impact of Omega 3 supplementation on key biomarkers related to inflammation and telomere repair/lengthening.
· Subjects included 138 (93 female and 45 male) “sedentary, overweight, middle-aged participants”.
· Participants were divided into three groups:
a. Group 1 received 2.5 G Omega-3 daily for four months.
b. Group 2 received 1.25 G Omega-3 daily for four months.
c. Group 3 received a daily placebo dose containing a mix of oils commonly found in the American diet.
· At the beginning and end of the study, participants underwent the “Trier Social Stress Test” which combines both speech and a mathematical task that has been reliably shown to increase inflammatory stress markers.
· After the initial and final “Stress Test”, saliva and blood samples were taken to measure a group of stress related biomarkers.
· Measured biomarkers included salivary cortisol (the primary stress hormone), pro inflammatory cytokines (Il-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) as well as the potent anti inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and telomerase (an enzyme responsible for maintaining and possibly even restoring the normal length of the telomeres).
· The researchers opted to look at these various biomarkers related to stress and telomere health because the markers would respond more rapidly than actual changes in the telomeres themselves.
Results:
Both groups which received the Omega 3 supplements showed improvements in telomerase levels and levels of IL-10.
The group receiving the higher dose of Omega 3 (2.5 G/day) also showed a 19% reduction in overall levels of cortisol and a 33% reduction in IL-6 indicating a strong anti inflammatory effect compared to the placebo group. (Note that the group which only received 1.2G/day did not demonstrate significant changes in either cortisol or IL-6).
Conversely, the placebo group saw a 24% decline in telomerase and a 26% decline in IL-10 both of which indicate increased inflammation and poor telomere repair and health.
Author’s Conclusions: “By lowering overall inflammation and cortisol levels during stress and boosting repair mechanisms during recovery, omega-3 may slow accelerated aging and reduce depression risk.” (emphasis ours)
Reviewer's Comments: Two key points strike me as important. First, the observed benefits were dose dependent which is strongly indicative of a causal relationship. Second, the higher dose (2.5 G/day) is within a level where one might reasonably expect a therapeutic benefit. We’ve all seen various studies on nutritional interventions which employed dosages so low they were unlikely to show any positive effect. Almost like the study was designed that way. Hmmm.
Reviewer: Mark R. Payne DC
Reference: A. Madison, M A. Belury, R. Andridge, Omega-3 supplementation and stress reactivity of cellular aging biomarkers: an ancillary substudy of a randomized, controlled trial in midlife adultset al. Molecular Psychiatry. April 2021
Link to Abstract: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-021-01077-2