Omega-3 Supplements Shown to Preserve Telomeres
A recently published study highlights the critical importance of omega 3 fats on health and aging.
Researchers from Ohio State University published the result of a study in the journal, Brain, Behavior and Immunity demonstrated that most healthy, middle-aged and older adults who took omega 3 supplements for four months altered the ratio of their fatty acid consumption in a way to both reduce total body systemic inflammation and helped preserve telomeres—the tiny segments of DNA in their white blood cells that are directly linked to the rate of aging.
Telomere length is a measurement used to assess the biological age of your cells. Telomeres naturally shorten over time as a consequence of poor diet, stress, environmental and household pollutants. Scientists now know that telomeres shorten faster due to a number factors including oxidative stress, nutritional deficiencies (primarily in vitamin D and omega 3 fats), physical and mental stress and carbohydrate intolerance. This research is extremely exciting as it supports the notion that telomere shortening can be prevented and even reversed by simple lifestyle changes such as supplementing with omega 3 fats.
Lead study author, Dr. Jan Kiecolt-Glaser commented “The telomere finding is provocative in that it suggests the possibility that a nutritional supplement might actually make a difference in aging.”
Why is this important for the Athlete?
Athlete’s Best has the trifecta to combat the shortening of telomeres. As you know, we have the highest quality omega-3s in our Premium Omega-3 Plus product. We also include over 1000 IU of Vitamin D per serving and Astaxanthin has tremendous ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value.
As an athlete, you want to be able to compete at your highest ability for as long as possible. No one wants to approach the day where they realize that they simply cannot do things during competition as they once used to. By lengthening and preserving your telomeres, you’ll be playing competitively much longer than ‘the norm’.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159112001183
