The Cutting-Edge Fatty Acid That Could Rewrite the Way We Age
Dr.Stephanie Venn-Watson is the cofounder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics, a health and wellness company that develops fatty acids to support health and longevity. Below, she shares valuable insight into an essential fatty acid that was recently discovered.
We’ve all heard that fatty acids are the secret to glowing skin, but what if they’re also the key to a sharper brain and a longer life? Enter C15:0, which involves a game-changing discovery that began with an unexpected twist: researching aging dolphins. Yes, dolphins. What started as a curious find has now sparked a movement poised to redefine longevity and health. Spoiler: it’s the first essential fatty acid discovered in 90 years—and it might just be the antiaging breakthrough we've been waiting for. An added bonus: it’s now available in a supplement to better our brains and bodies.
Two decades ago, I was recruited as a veterinary epidemiologist by the Navy to help improve the health and welfare of Navy dolphins—you read that right, there are dolphins in the Navy. For over 60 years, the Navy has cared for a population of around a hundred dolphins that live in the open ocean. While wild dolphins live to about 20 years, those at the Navy have been thriving well into their 40s and even 50s.
However, about one in three of these older dolphins developed age-related conditions surprisingly similar to those seen in humans: chronic inflammation, elevated cholesterol, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. And here's the kicker: unlike humans, these dolphins don’t drink, smoke, or eat processed junk food. Yet, some still experienced the same age-related breakdowns. This presented a fascinating opportunity to dig deeper.
Enter metabolomics—an advanced technology we used to analyze thousands of molecules in dolphin blood and diet. We expected omega-3s, since their diet consists primarily of fish, to be the key nutrient. Instead, we found an unexpected hero: C15:0, a rare odd-chain saturated fatty acid, was the strongest predictor of the healthiest aging dolphins.
Fast-forward a decade, and we now understand just how crucial C15:0 is for long-term health. It’s the first new essential fatty acid discovered in nearly a century. To clarify: essential fatty acids, like vitamins, are nutrients we cannot produce on our own, yet we need them to maintain our baseline health.
Here’s where C15:0 stands out:
It strengthens our cell membranes, protecting them from age-driving lipid peroxidation.
It repairs mitochondrial function and reduces reactive oxygen species—free radicals that accelerate the aging process.
It supports cellular signaling, benefiting our metabolism, heart, liver, immune system, and cognitive health.
These benefits help explain why individuals with higher levels of C15:0 tend to have healthier metabolic systems, livers, hearts, and brains. In fact, studies suggest that nutritional deficiencies in C15:0 may be linked to the rise in chronic conditions—especially among younger populations. Rising rates of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease could be tied to a deficiency of this essential nutrient, which is now being recognized as a potential driver of aging and disease.
But here’s the good news: C15:0 deficiencies are reversible.
C15:0 is rapidly becoming recognized as a leading longevity nutrient. Think of geroprotectors as the "holy grail" of healthy aging—molecules that slow down the aging process and delay age-related breakdown. In my book The Longevity Nutrient (Simon & Schuster), I explain how C15:0 checks all seven boxes needed to be considered a true geroprotector. Our studies, published in Nutrients, even show that C15:0 outperforms other well-known longevity molecules like rapamycin and metformin. Go, C15:0!
To date, more than 100 peer-reviewed studies highlight the vital role C15:0 plays in supporting long-term health. As the research continues to unfold, it’s clear that this discovery could help address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Over the past decade, our work has focused on developing a bioavailable, science-backed form of C15:0—an effort that has opened doors to new possibilities in longevity and aging science. With more scientists, physicians, and veterinarians embracing the potential of C15:0, we’re eager to see where this breakthrough will take us in the years ahead.
Save the dolphins, save the world, right? 🐬🌏