Daily Omega-3 Supplements May Slow Biological Aging: Study
According to a new study from Nature Ageing, daily supplementation with omega-3 slowed biological aging by three months over three years. Omega-3 supplementation in combination with vitamin D and exercise substantially influenced epigenetic aging markers in a post hoc analysis of the DO-HEALTH trial involving 777 older adults aged 70 to 91. This study was conducted by Heike A. and fellow researchers.
Biological aging is evaluated by DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks, which determine how fast an individual's body ages at the cellular level. The DO-HEALTH trial, conducted in Switzerland, examined the impact of vitamin D (2,000 IU/day), omega-3 (1 g/day), and a home exercise program on biological aging over three years. Participants were divided into eight groups, receiving either a single intervention or a combination of treatments. The study specifically assessed changes in four next-generation DNAm clocks:
• PhenoAge
• GrimAge
• GrimAge2
• DunedinPACE
The objective was to find out if these interventions could decelerate the biological aging process and enhance health outcomes.
Key Findings
• Omega-3 alone significantly slowed biological aging, affecting three aging markers: PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE.
• Vitamin D, omega-3, and exercise together had an even stronger effect, particularly on the PhenoAge clock.
• From baseline to year three, the standardized effects on aging ranged between 0.16 to 0.32 units, which translates into slowing aging by 2.9 to 3.8 months.
• The results imply that intervention through multiple pathways of aging, including inflammation (omega-3), bone and immune health (vitamin D), and physical fitness (exercise), confers more benefits than a single intervention.
Biological Aging and Epigenetics
• Epigenetic aging represents alterations in the patterns of DNA methylation that influence gene expression and cellular functions. Omega-3s are associated with positive epigenetic modifications, as they reduce both inflammation and oxidative stress, significant contributors to rapid aging.
The lead researcher for the study was Bischoff-Ferrari, who said, "Omega-3 impacts multiple aging pathways, including anti-inflammatory effects. Similarly, vitamin D and exercise offer diverse health benefits.
The results of the DO-HEALTH trial concluded that omega-3 supplementation slows biological aging and the effect is even more enhanced when combined with vitamin D and exercise. The study provides strong evidence that targeting different aging pathways simultaneously may be more effective than relying on a single intervention.
Reference:
Bischoff-Ferrari, H.A., Gängler, S., Wieczorek, M. et al. Individual and additive effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise on DNA methylation clocks of biological aging in older adults from the DO-HEALTH trial. Nat Aging (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00793-y
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