Omega-3s in Fish Oils Tied to Healthy Aging

A study published in the British Medical Journal found an association between higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and healthier aging, reports the New York Times . Researchers monitored 2,622 adults, average age 74 and healthy at the beginning, from 1992 to 2006. They quantified blood levels of four common types of omega-3s: seafood-derived EPA and DHA, plant-derived ALA, and DPA. In comparison with people in the lowest one-fifth for omega-3 levels, those in the highest one-fifth had an 18 percent reduced risk of unhealthy aging. EPA and DPA were linked to lowered risk of unhealthy aging, but DHA and ALA were not. "In our study we found that adults with higher blood levels of omega-3s from seafood were more likely to live longer and healthier lives," concluded Tufts University's Heidi T.M. Lai. "So it is a great idea to eat more fish."