Omega-3 fatty acids may help shield cells from the effects of aging, according to a new study.
For the study, researchers recruited 608 people with stable coronary artery disease and measured the length of telomeres in their blood cells. Telomeres are structures found at the end of a chromosome; factors such as genetics and environmental stress are known to shorten their length over time. Therefore, telomere length is considered a marker of biological aging.
Sizing up five years of data on the participants' telomere lengths, the study's authors determined that individuals with the lowest blood levels of omega-3s had the most rapid rate of telomere shortening. Those with the highest omega-3 levels, meanwhile, had the slowest rate of telomere shortening.
Found naturally in certain foods (such as oily fish and flaxseed oil), omega-3s are available in dietary supplement form. Past research suggests that regular intake of omega-3s may help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check, as well as reduce stroke risk.
