C15:0 - The Essential Fatty Acid Revolutionizing Health

 

Pentadecanoic acid, also known as C15:0 or fatty acid C15, is an odd-chain saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)13CO2H. It is a colorless solid with no double bonds, making the molecule very stable and less reactive; it is found naturally in trace levels in whole fat dairy products, some plants, and fish; it is also synthesized endogenously in humans through alpha-oxidation, but not at the levels we need.

C15:0 has been identified as an essential fatty acid, meaning that the human body cannot produce it and requires it for physiological health. It is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in 90 years, joining the existing essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6.

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, while studying pods of dolphins for the U.S. Navy in the waters off Sarasota, Florida, and San Diego, California, discovered that the east-coast dolphins experienced a markedly better health experience and longevity than their counterparts on the west coast. Dolphins are long-lived and age similarly to humans. Dolphins on both coasts were on all-fish diets, but the compound C15 appeared in higher amounts in the diet of the healthier east coast dolphins. Once the diet of the west coast dolphins was supplemented with C15, diseases went away and health was restored.

Studies have shown that C15:0 shares clinically relevant cell-based activities with leading longevity-enhancing compounds, making it a promising area of research for its potential health benefits for humans as well. It has been compared to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and has been found to have broader and safer clinically-relevant activities across multiple human cell-based disease systems.

C15 is readily available in dairy products, but so is the compound C16 (Palmitic acid), which has a negative metabolic impact and is highly inflammatory, making the use of dairy products counterproductive to optimizing health. (16-carbon Palmitic acid and the monounsaturated version, Palmitoleic acid, are what the liver turns excess circulating carbohydrates into in insulin resistant people. A person who does not eat too much carbohydrates and does not develop insulin resistance has no issues using Palmitic acid as a clean fuel, and it should not cause inflammation.)

So C15:0 supplements, such as fatty15, are a preferred source and available and marketed for various health benefits, including healthier hair and skin, balanced metabolism, deeper sleep, and slowing the aging process. It also strengthens the makeup of the cell membrane, making it stiffer and more robust; it enhances mitochondrial energy production, and also reduces inflammation. A chronic low-level inflammatory state is well known to contribute to the onset of many age-associated diseases.

People with higher C15:0 levels have a lower risk of having or developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, coronary heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, numerous cancers, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Alzheimer's disease. It has an anti-proliferative effect of various cancer cell types, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, creates a higher insulin sensitivity, lowers the risk of impaired fasting glucose and glucose tolerance, lowers liver enzymes, reduces risk of elevated blood pressure, decreases C reactive proteins (anti-inflammatory), and generally lowers the body mass index, reducing unhealthy body fat.

C15:0 triggers longevity signals: mTOR inhibitor, AMPK activator, and PPAR alpha/beta agonist, JAK/STAT inhibitor, and HDAC6 inhibitor, well established moderators of metabolism, lipids, inflammation, and cancer, outperforming the much heralded pharmaceutical Rapamycin. These are all key indicators that longevity is being impacted. Essentially, it slows aging; it inhibits mTOR. As we age, mTOR goes up - we lose muscle mass as protein synthesis becomes more difficult. C15:0 brings mTOR back in line within normal levels.

As it supports mitochondrial health, so we have more energy. Glucose and lipid metabolism are improved. C15:0 enhances autophagy, which helps our body remove damaged cells, stemming premature cellular senescence, so we have less zombie cells to no zombie cells.

Awhile ago medical science told us to stay away from saturated fat, a terrible mistake that has only resulted in a decrease in general health. We lowered our intake of this essential fatty acid without examining the specifics of saturated fat wherein C15 was hiding. The following extract supports a return to saturated fats in the diet.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major cause of death and morbidity globally and diet plays a crucial role in the disease prevention and pathology. The negative perception of dairy fats stems from the effort to reduce dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake due to their association with increased cholesterol levels upon consumption and the increased risk of CVD development. Institutions that set dietary guidelines have approached dairy products with negative bias and used poor scientific data in the past. As a result, the consumption of dairy products was considered detrimental to our cardiovascular health. In western societies, dietary trends indicate that generally there is a reduction of full-fat dairy product consumption and increased low-fat dairy consumption. However, recent research and meta-analyses have demonstrated the benefits of full-fat dairy consumption, based on higher bioavailability of high-value nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, the relationship between dairy consumption, cardiometabolic risk factors and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases are discussed. Functional dairy foods and the health implications of dairy alternatives are also considered. In general, evidence suggests that milk has a neutral effect on cardiovascular outcomes but fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, kefir and cheese may have a positive or neutral effect. Particular focus is placed on the effects of the lipid content on cardiovascular health.

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5867544/)

So what is the optimal level of C15:0 in the diet for best results? Research suggests that we need to supplement to get enough of C15. Research by Dr. Venn-Watson indicates that a 100-200mg daily dosage of C15:0 is ideal for reaching a target blood value of 10-30µM. The product Fatty15 hits the mark with its 100mg, once-daily supplement dosage. However, C15:0 makes up 1.2% of cow's milk fat. One tablespoon of butter has 12 g of cow milk fat. 12 × 1.2% =144 mg of C15:0 in 1 tbsp of butter. It's pretty safe to eat one tablespoon of butter a day.