Omega-3 supplements slow biological clock.

• Position: Aging - Brief article

Taking enough omega-3 fatty acid supplements to change the balance of oils in the diet could slow a key biological process linked to aging, indicates research published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The study showed that most overweight (but healthy) middle-aged and older adults who took omega-3 supplements for four months altered a ratio of their fatty acid consumption in a way that help ed preserve tiny segments of DNA in their white blood cells.

These segments, called telomeres, are known to shorten over time in many types of cells as a consequence of aging. In the study, lengthening of telomeres in immune system cells was more prevalent in people who substantially improved the ratio of omega-3s to other fatty acids in their diet. Omega-3 supplementation also reduced oxidative stress, caused by excessive free radicals in the blood, by about 15% compared to effects seen in the placebo group.

"The telomere finding is provocative in that it...