Fish Oils May Slow Genetic Aging

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Medical News: Fish Oils May Slow Genetic Aging

For heart disease patients, omega-3 fatty acids may protect against

morbidity and mortality by slowing biological aging, researchers say.

Patients who had the highest omega-3 fatty acid blood levels also had

telomeres that shortened at a significantly slower rate than patients with

lower intake, Ramin Farzaneh-Far, MD, of the University of California San

Francisco, and colleagues reported in the Jan. 20 JAMA.

Patients in the lowest quartile of omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had the

fastest rate of telomere shortening over five years: 0.13

telomere-to-single-copy gene ratio (95% CI 0.09 to 0.17).

Those who had the highest omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had the slowest

rate of telomere shortening: 0.05 telomere-to-single copy ratio (95% CI

0.02 to 0.08, P<0.001).

Action Points

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* Explain that patients who had the highest intake of omega-3 fatty

acids had the slowest decrease in telomere length. On the other hand,

patients with the lowest levels of omega-3s in their blood had the fastest rate

of telomere shortening.

Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that reveal

how biological stress ages a person.

" Patients with the highest levels of omega-3 fish oils were found to

display the slowest decrease in telomere length, whereas those with the lowest

levels of omega-3 fish oils in the blood had the fastest rate of telomere

shortening, " Farzaneh-Far said. " This suggests that these patients were aging

faster than those with higher fish oil levels. "

They said omega-3s may protect against oxidative stress, or increase the

activity of the telomerase enzyme, which would decrease telomere shortening

by creating more accurate telomere copies.

But some cardiologists were quick to point out that the results are

preliminary and need to be replicated before physicians can use them in

practice.

Since the study was observational and couldn't prove cause-and-effect, " we

don't really know whether ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in

this 'benefit,' " E. Nissen, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, noted in an

e-mail. " It remains entirely possible that individuals who consume more fish

also have other favorable healthy habits. "

Nissen also pointed out that the study was not randomized to compare fish

oil directly with a placebo treatment, and cautioned that " the relationship

between telomere shortening and cardiovascular health is not well

established. "

Studies have shown that omega-3s appear to be effective for patients with

coronary artery disease. Yet the underlying mechanisms are not well

understood. Some researchers think it may have something to do with

anti-inflammatory, triglyceride-lowering, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, or

antiarrhythimic effects.

Research has shown that the length of telomeres -- chromosome caps that

have long been compared to the plastic ends of shoelaces -- may be a marker

of biological age. Biological age is independent of chronological age, and

takes into account genetic and environmental stressors that may wreak havoc

on cells.

Since there's been increasing evidence that omega-3s exert direct effects

on aging and age-related diseases, the researchers decided to investigate

them as a potential mechanism for protective effects in heart patients.

So they conducted a prospective cohort study of 608 patients in California

with stable coronary artery disease. Patients were recruited from the

Heart and Soul Study between September 2000 and December 2002.

They were followed for five years, and the researchers assessed telomere

length of their leukocytes at baseline and again at the end of follow-up.

" By measuring telomere length at two different times, " Farzaneh-Far said,

" we were able to see the speed at which the telomers are shortening and

that gives us some indication of how rapidly the biological aging process is

taking place in these patients. "

The researchers found that baseline omega-3 fatty acid levels were

positively correlated with changes in telomere length over five years

(P=0.001).

The relationships remained after controlling for potential confounders

including demographics, blood pressure, serum lipids, and inflammatory

biomarkers.

The researchers noted that each standard-deviation increase in fatty acid

levels was associated with a 32% reduction in the odds of telomere

shortening (95% CI 0.47 to 0.98).

So how do omega-3s stop telomeres from getting smaller?

They may protect against oxidative stress, which is a major driver of

telomere shortening and aging. Or, fatty acids may increase the activity of the

enzyme telomerase, which can result in more accurate copying and hence,

longer telomeres, the researchers suggested.

The researchers agreed that the study was limited by its observational

nature, which leaves no room for definitive conclusions about causality. Also,

they only measured telomere length in leukocytes, which means the findings

may not translate to other cell types, including myocardial or endothelial

cells.

Researchers who were not involved in the study noted that omega-3s have

been shown to have effects on other factors that contribute to heart disease

risk.

" Omega-3 fatty acids have a potent positive impact on lipids that

circulate in the blood stream and damage the heart, " said Cam , MD, of

the

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill McAllister Heart Institute. " The

effects of omega-3 fatty acids on lipids are still the best advertisement

for their use to prevent heart disease. "

Merle Myerson, MD, of Columbia University, agreed. " [The researchers]

don't mention that omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and non-HDL

cholesterol, and stabilize cell membranes -- all of which may reduce risk for

coronary artery disease and sudden cardiac death. "

Myerson said the findings need to be replicated in future studies.

While their study may not have implications for intake of omega-3s among

the general population, the researchers said it upholds recommendations for

patients with heart disease.

" The results of our study underscore the recommendations of the American

Heart Association, that patients with known coronary artery disease should

be getting at least one gram a day of omega-3 fish oil, " Farzaneh-Far said.

The study was supported by grants from the American Heart Association and

the Bernard and Barbro Foundation.

The Heart and Soul Study was supported by the Department of Veterans

Affairs, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Wood

Foundation, the American Federation for Aging Research, the Ischemia

Research and Education Foundation, and the Kirwan Heart Research Fund.

A co-author reported financial conflicts with GlaxoKline and

Monsanto, and founded OmegaQuant Analytics to offer blood omega-3 fatty acid

testing.

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