13/03/2025
A report in the New Scientist says you can slow down ageing by supplementing both omega-3 and vitamin D, as well as increasing exercise.
While omega-3 alone helps switch on anti-ageing genes that slow down ageing, the effect is amplified by also supplementing vitamin D and exercising more.
Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, from the University of Zurich had already established the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 on brain and body. “Omega-3 plays on multiple pathways of ageing, such as being anti-inflammatory. Similarly, vitamin D and exercise have multiple benefits,” says Bischoff-Ferrari. “We thought, if you play on each of these differential pathways, do you get an additive benefit?”
The study, involving 777 people in Switzerland aged 70 to 91, split them into eight groups each doing either one or a combo of these three things to find out how omega-3 would work alongside vitamin D supplements and exercise. They were given either 1 gram of fish oils a day which my daily packs provide, or 2,000iu of vitamin D or three weekly sessions of strength training.
After three years the combo had effectively knocked 4 months off their biological age. Omega-3 alone equated to 3 months less ageing. This effectively means that a person that ticks all three boxes would live 1.5 years longer and healthier. The study is published in Nature Ageing - https://go.nature.com/41YLr5T
Valyland Centre is a neighbourhood shopping Centre in the heart of the residential area of Fish Hoek
