Study Connects the Role of Omega-3-Fatty Acids in Increasing Life Expectancy

Aug, 2021 - By SMI

A team of researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), The Fatty Acid Research Institute, and various other universities in the U.S. and Canada revealed that the levels of omega-3-fatty acid in the blood are morality risk predictors.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fat which the human body cannot make on its own. The body derive these fats from food such as fish, vegetable oils, flax seeds, leafy vegetables, and others. The American Heart Association suggests intake of oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and others twice a week to obtain health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. In the current study, the researchers analyzed the levels of blood fatty acid levels in around 2,240 individuals who are 65 years or above. These individuals considered for the study were residents of Massachusetts town, U.S., who were monitored for an average of 11 years. The researchers collected data from the Framingham Offspring Cohort. The main aim of the study is to identify which fatty acids would function as a good predictor of mortality. The researchers found that omega-3 levels in red blood cells are very good mortality risk predictors. More importantly, the researchers found that two out of four types of fatty acids are saturated fatty acids which are traditionally linked to cardiovascular risk, although, in this case indicate longer life expectancy. The researchers recommended small changes in the diet and suggested eating oily fish such as sardines, salmon, and others to get benefits of omega-3 fatty acids naturally. Moreover, the researchers would conduct the same study in people of European origin belonging to the same age group to find whether the results are same outside the U.S. as well.

Taken together, the researchers conclude that the higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the red blood cells increase the life expectancy by almost five years.