Slowing the Clock: Omega-3s, Vitamin D, and Exercise Shown to Impact Biological Aging in landmark DO-HEALTH Study
By Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, Professor of Geriatrics and Geriatric Medicine, University of Zurich
As we age, the number of years lived (chronological age) increasingly diverges from our healthspan – the period of life spent in good health, free from significant disability.Understanding and influencing this gap is a central focus of modern geriatric medicine. Recent research from the groundbreaking DO-HEALTH study, led by my team at the University of Zurich, offers compelling evidence that targeted interventions - specifically omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D supplementation, and strength training – can demonstrably slow down biological aging.
The Promise of Epigenetic Clocks
For years, measuring the rate of biological aging has been a significant challenge.Traditional biomarkers often fall short of capturing the complex interplay of factors that contribute to age-related decline.However, the advent of ”epigenetic clocks” has revolutionized this field. these clocks analyze methylation patterns on our DNA – chemical modifications that don’t alter the DNA sequence itself, but do change gene expression. Crucially,these patterns are sensitive to lifestyle and environmental factors,offering a quantifiable measure of biological age that can differ from chronological age.
The DO-HEALTH study represents the first large-scale investigation into how these highly sensitive epigenetic clocks respond to targeted interventions designed to promote healthy aging. We collaborated with Steve Horvath of Altos Labs Cambridge, a pioneer in epigenetic clock development, to ensure the rigor and validity of our analysis.
DO-HEALTH: A Rigorous Trial Design
The DO-HEALTH study enrolled 2,157 healthy adults aged 70 and over across Switzerland (with ongoing expansion to include participants from germany, France, Austria, and Portugal).Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight groups, each receiving a different combination of interventions over a three-year period:
Vitamin D3: 2,000 IU daily (substantially exceeding the current recommended 800 IU for older adults)
omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1 gram daily (sourced from algae)
Strength Training: A simple, home-based program performed three times per week
Placebo
Throughout the study, participants received regular follow-up calls and underwent comprehensive health assessments, including detailed evaluations of lifestyle factors. this robust methodology, combined with the large cohort size, makes DO-HEALTH a uniquely powerful platform for investigating the impact of interventions on healthy aging.
Key Findings: Slowing Biological Time
Our analysis of blood samples revealed a significant impact of omega-3 fatty acids on biological aging. Across multiple validated epigenetic clocks, omega-3 supplementation was associated with a slowing of biological age by up to four months – and this effect was observed regardless of gender, age, or body mass index.
Even more encouragingly, the combination of omega-3s, vitamin D, and strength training demonstrated the most potent effect on slowing biological aging, as measured by one of the four epigenetic clocks utilized in the study.These findings build upon our previous DO-HEALTH results, which demonstrated that this combined approach significantly reduced the risk of cancer and prevented premature frailty. It’s clear that these interventions aren’t working in isolation; they operate through distinct, complementary mechanisms, creating a synergistic effect that amplifies overall health benefits.
Navigating the Challenges of Biological age Measurement
While the results are promising, it’s critically important to acknowledge the complexities of measuring biological age. Currently, there isn’t a universally accepted “gold standard.” We addressed this by utilizing the most rigorously validated epigenetic clocks available, representing the current state-of-the-art in the field.
my team, in collaboration with the Global Health Span Extension Consortium, is actively working to further refine and validate biomarkers of aging, leveraging DO-HEALTH and other large-scale intervention studies as crucial validation platforms.
Looking ahead: Expanding the scope and Impact of DO-HEALTH
The initial DO-HEALTH cohort consisted solely of Swiss participants.To enhance the generalizability of our findings, we are now expanding our analysis to include participants from Germany, France, Austria, and Portugal, accounting for greater genetic and lifestyle diversity.The DO-HEALTH cohort and biobank, the largest of its kind in Europe focusing on healthy aging, represents an invaluable resource for future research. We are committed to continuing to unlock the secrets of healthy aging and translating these discoveries into practical strategies for improving the healthspan of individuals worldwide.
Disclaimer: *I, Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, am a Professor of Geriatrics and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Zurich and the principal investigator of the DO-HEALTH study. This article reflects my expertise and the
