https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00355-1 Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. Advertisement Advertisement Nature * View all journals * Search * Log in * Explore content * About the journal * Publish with us * Subscribe * Sign up for alerts * RSS feed 1. nature 2. news 3. article * NEWS * 03 February 2025 Omega-3 supplements slow biological ageing The anti-ageing effect was even greater when combined with vitamin D and exercise. By * Felicity Nelson 1. Felicity Nelson View author publications You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar * Twitter * Facebook * Email Close up on the hands of a senior man holding a white bottle and a handful of yellow omega-3 supplement capsules Omega-3 supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of falls and frailty in older people.Credit: Brian Jackson/Alamy Clinician-scientist Heike Bischoff-Ferrari and geroscientist Steve Horvath take omega-3 and vitamin D supplements every day to prevent ageing-related health issues. "I do this every morning with my coffee," says Horvath, who is based at biotechnology company Altos Labs in Cambridge, UK. "I practise what we publish." In Nature Aging today, the pair are co-authors on a study that showed that these supplements over a three-year period slowed biological ageing by three to four months, particularly when combined with exercise. Biological ageing is measured at a molecular level; people of the same chronological age can have faster or slower age-related decline depending on their health. Three to four months' slowing of biological ageing sounds small, but this can translate to important public-health benefits such as a reduction in the prevalence of some age-related health conditions, says Bischoff-Ferrari, based at the University of Basel in Switzerland. The study analysed data from the DO-HEALTH trial on the effects of supplements and exercise in older people, that took place across five European countries from 2012 to 2014. The researchers reviewed data on more than 700 people aged 70 or over who were given either a placebo or omega-3, vitamin D and exercise alone or in combination. All the participants were from Switzerland and around half were healthy, with no major chronic illnesses or disabilities. Blood samples taken from participants at the start and end of the study were analysed using four biological clocks. These measure the extent of biological ageing on the basis of additions and deletions of methyl groups to the DNA. "The use of multiple DNA methylation clocks is a strength, as different clocks capture distinct aspects of biological ageing," says Luigi Fontana, a biogerontologist at the University of Sydney in Australia. Stronger together One of those clocks, called PhenoAge, showed that older people avoided several months of biological ageing over 3 years by taking 1 gram of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, derived from algae, with additive benefits from taking vitamin D (2,000 international units per day) and engaging in 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week. Together, the 3 treatments reduced biological ageing by 2.9-3.8 months. On its own, omega-3 slowed biological ageing in three of the epigenetic clocks the researchers used. Enjoying our latest content? Login or create an account to continue * Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team * Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research Access through your institution or Sign in or create an account # Continue with Google # Continue with ORCiD doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00355-1 References 1. H. A. Bischoff-Ferrari et al. Nature Aging https://doi.org/ 10.1038/s43587-024-00793-y (2025). Article Google Scholar Download references Reprints and permissions Related Articles * [d41586-025] Why eating less slows ageing: this molecule is key * [d41586-025] Ageing studies in five animals suggest how to reverse decline * [d41586-025] Humanity's newest brain gains are most at risk from ageing * [d41586-025] What accelerates brain ageing? This AI 'brain clock' points to answers * [d41586-025] Hacking the immune system could slow ageing -- here's how Subjects * Ageing * Epigenetics * Molecular biology Latest on: Ageing The new science of menopause: these emerging therapies could change women's health The new science of menopause: these emerging therapies could change women's health News Feature 22 JAN 25 X chromosome passed from mother to daughter influences brain ageing X chromosome passed from mother to daughter influences brain ageing News & Views 22 JAN 25 RNA molecule rejuvenates ageing mice by restoring old cells RNA molecule rejuvenates ageing mice by restoring old cells News 17 JAN 25 Epigenetics X chromosome passed from mother to daughter influences brain ageing X chromosome passed from mother to daughter influences brain ageing News & Views 22 JAN 25 Circadian rhythms are set by epigenetic marks in neurons Circadian rhythms are set by epigenetic marks in neurons News & Views 08 JAN 25 AI learns from chromatin data to uncover gene interactions AI learns from chromatin data to uncover gene interactions News & Views 08 JAN 25 Molecular biology Molecular basis of vitamin K driven g-carboxylation at membrane interface Article 29 JAN 25 Mapping cells through time and space with moscot Mapping cells through time and space with moscot Article 22 JAN 25 Complete human recombination maps Complete human recombination maps Article 22 JAN 25 Nature Careers Jobs * Post-Doctoral Associate in the Division of Science [Mathematics] - Dr. Francesco Paparella NYUAD seeks a Post-Doctoral Associate in applied mathematics and computational science to work under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Paparella. 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