Taking omega-3 supplements may slow down aging, a new study finds

• In a study of 777 older people, omega-3 supplements slowed biological aging.
• Researchers found that taking a gram of omega-3s daily reduced aging by up to 4 months.
• The effects were strongest when combined with vitamin D supplements and regular exercise.

Omega-3 fatty acids — nutrients in salmon and chia seeds — may keep your body and mind younger for longer, a new study suggests.

An international team of scientists, including researchers from Harvard University and the University of Zurich, analyzed clinical trial results 777 elderly Swiss adults to test the potential anti-aging benefits of supplements and exercise.

While there’s no perfect way to measure biological aging, the researchers used tools that help measure age-related decline in the cells and organs, including factors like brain health and heart health.

They looked at participants who underwent one of eight longevity treatments over three years, including exercising and supplementing omega-3s, vitamin D, or both.

The researchers found that older adults who consumed a gram of omega-3s every day were biologically younger and healthier than their peers who didn’t supplement the nutrient — shaving off three to four months of aging during the course of three years.

The benefits were even greater in people who also supplemented vitamin D and did at-home exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes.

The results were published February 3 in the journal Nature Aging.

Anti-aging treatments don’t have to be expensive, experts say

Most of the previous research on longevity and omega-3s has been observational, which means it suggests — but does not confirm — a link between the nutrient and certain anti-aging benefits.

Research has linked omega-3-rich diets to reduced inflammation, better joint health, a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and a lower risk of dementia.

If additional studies pan out, omega-3s could be an attractive, affordable alternative to expensive anti-aging treatments that are currently trendy.

Mary Ni Lochlainn, a research fellow in geriatric medicine at King’s College London who was not involved in the study, said this latest study should inspire people to try cheaper longevity methods.

“It adds to the growing evidence that these simple and fairly low-cost interventions are beneficial and, based on this and previous existing research, worth engaging in for adults as they get older,” Lochlainn said in a press release.