Dr. Fatemeh Kourkinejadalmost 6 years ago

Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Healthier Aging

Higher serum levels of serum omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are associated with healthy aging in adults, defined as survival without chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease, or severe chronic kidney disease, a new study suggests. Researchers measured cumulative levels of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFAs in 2600 older adults at three time points over a 13-year period and found that higher levels of long-chain n-3 PUFAs were associated with an 18% lower chance of unhealthy aging. In particular, n-3 PUFAs from seafood, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were associated with healthier aging. "We found that higher blood levels of omega-3s from seafood were associated with a higher likelihood of healthy aging and also saw that people with the highest blood levels of omega-3s self-reported fish intake of about two servings per week," lead author Heidi Lai, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.