DHA for the Brain: 12 Months Slowed Hippocampus Shrinkage in MCI
A year of DHA slowed shrinkage of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. In a 240-person randomized trial from China (219 completers), the DHA group also outperformed placebo on Full-Scale IQ, Information and Digit Span. The dose was a 2 g/day supplement, about 0.9 g of actual DHA. The findings may help explain why omega-3 trials in healthy people have been mixed, since the benefit may be concentrated in those already showing cognitive decline. This article covers the numbers, the likely mechanisms, practical tips on dose and sourcing, and the limits of a single trial.
Vitamin D3 Preserved 140 Base Pairs of Telomere in a 4-Year RCT
A large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that four years of vitamin D3 slowed telomere shortening by about 140 base pairs. The data come from the VITAL study of older U.S. adults taking 2,000 IU/day. The effect was modest and borderline significant (p=0.039), and telomere length is a surrogate marker, not proof of a longer life. Omega-3s, meanwhile, did nothing for telomeres in this trial. Here is what the numbers show, what the limits are, and how to use the finding sensibly.
Omega-3 Slowed Biological Aging ~3 Months in a 3-Year RCT
A randomized trial in 777 adults aged 70+ found that 1 g/day of omega-3 slowed several epigenetic aging clocks, by roughly 3 months of biological aging over 3 years. Combining omega-3 with vitamin D (2,000 IU/day) and a home strength routine showed additive benefits on the PhenoAge clock. The catch: the effect is small, the analysis was post hoc, and epigenetic clocks are surrogate markers, not proof of a longer life. This breakdown covers the exact numbers, the limitations, and the practical doses used, plus who should check with a doctor first.