Heart disease: fish oil supplements slow cell aging

Cellular aging can be slowed by high levels of Omega 3 in the blood of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. This was demonstrated by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (United States) in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. According to the research authors, high amounts of these fatty acids are associated with increased length of telomeres, the DNA sequences located at the end of chromosomes that shorten as we age. The hypothesis formulated is that theantioxidant action of Omega-3s protects these structures from shortening, preventing cellular aging.

Telomeres, indicators of cell age

Telomeres are special structures that protect the ends of chromosomes, preventing them from interacting with each other to form fusions or other genetic mutations. With each cell division, the length of these portions of DNA decreases. For this reason, telomeres are considered indicators of thebiological age of the cell. Some previous studies have shown that factors affecting telomere size include oxidative stress. Some research has also revealed that molecules with antioxidant properties can protect these structures from damage. Such is the case with multivitamins. According to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Research Triangle Park, United States), regular consumption of these nutrients is associated with longer telomere length. Similar results were obtained by Ruth Chan and colleagues at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, China, who showed that chromosome ends are significantly longer in those who drink an average of three cups of tea a day, compared with those who consume only a quarter of them. According to Chan, this difference in telomere length roughly corresponds to five years of additional life.

Omega-3 and telomeres

Research by University of California experts has focused on patients with cardiovascular disorders. Several studies have shown that in these individuals a high intake of Omega-3 through diet is associated with a better survival rate. However, the mechanism behind this phenomenon has not yet been fully discovered. Studying the length of telomeres in the blood cells of 608 patients suffering from coronary artery disease, the study authors showed that in individuals with the lowest levels of Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) the ends of the chromosomes shorten more rapidly. Conversely, 5 years after the start of the study, telomere shortening was much slower in patients with the highest blood levels of EPA and DHA.

Cellular aging: effective protection

Researchers have concluded that Omega-3s could protect those with heart disease fromcellular aging. As with multivitamins and tea, the mechanisms of action could be based on decreasing oxidative stress, a parameter influenced by these fatty acids. However, the authors do not rule out that a direct action the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that ensures the maintenance of the terminal structure of chromosomes, may be involved. Together with results obtained in previous studies, these data support the hypothesis that antioxidant intake protects cells from aging.  

Source 

1. Farzaneh-Far R, Lin J, Epel ES, Harris WS, Blackburn EH, Whooley MA, "Association of marine omega-3 fatty acid levels with telomeric aging in patients with coronary heart disease," JAMA. 2010 Jan 20;303(3):250-7 

2. Xu Q, Parks CG, DeRoo LA, Cawthon RM, Sandler DP, Chen H, "Multivitamin use and telomere length in women," Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1857-63. Epub 2009 Mar 11 

3. Chan R, Woo J, Suen E, Leung J, Tang N, "Chinese tea consumption is associated with longer telomere length in elderly Chinese men," Br J Nutr. 2010 Jan;103(1):107-13. Epub 2009 Aug 12