This newly discovered nutrient may help you live longer — here’s where to find it

Veterinary epidemiologist Stephanie Venn-Watson found her porpoise two decades ago while studying the well-being of bottlenose dolphins the US Navy trains to protect ships and harbors.

She noticed that the healthiest dolphins had higher levels of the saturated fatty acid C15:0. When the dolphins ate fish rich in C15:0, their insulin, glucose and cholesterol levels decreased.

Now, C15:0 is making waves in longevity circles. Research suggests that the molecule — also called pentadecanoic acid — can lower the risk of fatty liver disease, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and possibly reverse those chronic conditions altogether.

C15:0 is also being touted for its potential to enhance sleep, boost energy and support joint health — it’s often compared to the promising anti-aging drugs rapamycin and metformin.

Venn-Watson and her husband, Eric, a Navy physician, embraced the power of C15:0 by launching the supplement fatty15 in 2021 under the Seraphina Therapeutics banner.

In her new book, “The Longevity Nutrient,” Venn-Watson describes how she went from the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program in San Diego to the C-suite while presenting her case that C15:0 holds the key to longer, healthier lives.

How does C15:0 work?

You’ve probably heard of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and support heart health, brain function and a strong immune system.

Like omega-3, C15:0 is an essential fatty acid. Our bodies cannot make enough C15:0 to meet our needs, so it must be obtained through diet or supplementation.

C15:0 is said to have broader health benefits than omega-3.

It’s been found to activate AMPK, an enzyme that restores energy balance when levels are low. AMPK activity decreases with age, which can lead to chronic inflammation and metabolic imbalances.

C15:0 is known to inhibit mTOR, a protein that can contribute to problems caused by senescent cells. These so-called “zombie cells” have permanently stopped dividing but haven’t died — they’ve been linked to age-related diseases.

C15:0 also activates special receptors that regulate immunity, metabolism, mood, sleep and appetite, Venn-Watson said.

Fatty15 users have reported experiencing “slightly improved sleep duration” and “better sleep, but some crazy dreams.”

Customers say they’ve noticed hair and nail growth, which Venn-Watson credits to C15:0’s ability to strengthen cellular membranes.

How much C15:0 do you need?

C15:0 is primarily found in whole-fat dairy products like milk, butter, sour cream and certain cheeses.

“You can get 75 milligrams of C15:0 per tablespoon of butter,” Venn-Watson wrote in “The Longevity Nutrient.”

High-oleic sunflower oil also has a lot of it. Smaller quantities are found in meat, seafood and seeds.

A daily dosage of 100 to 200 mg is recommended.

Each fatty15 capsule contains 100 mg of C15:0 (the 90-day starter kit without a subscription costs $149.95). To make it more accessible, Venn-Watson’s team is developing C15:0 as an ingredient that can fortify foods.

You need to get enough C15:0, Venn-Watson said, because low levels can cause cellular fragility syndrome.

She has linked this form of accelerated cellular aging to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart disease.

“Mounting studies support that cellular fragility syndrome, present in as many as one in three people, may help explain the alarming rise in these conditions, especially among younger people,” Venn-Watson told The Post.

How long does it take to kick in?

About half of fatty15 customers report noticing benefits within two weeks, Venn-Watson said, while 72% say they see results within 16 weeks.

Dietary supplements like fatty15 don’t have to undergo the same rigorous testing as prescription drugs, but Venn-Watson assures that “numerous safety studies and two controlled clinical trials have shown no negative side effects.”

Is C15:0 better than other longevity molecules?

Rapamycin, which is supposed to prevent organ rejection after transplantation, has been hailed for its potential anti-aging effects.

Venn-Watson said fatty15 narrowly beat rapamycin in a recent study of cell-repairing benefits and crushed the anti-diabetes drug metformin.

“Importantly, both fatty15 and rapamycin demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, anticancer and antimicrobial activities, all of which are expected to help extend our healthspan and lifespan,” Venn-Watson said.

She pointed out that rapamycin can cause serious side effects — which recently prompted tech mogul Bryan Johnson to drop it from his longevity regimen — while C15:0 is “an extraordinarily safe nutrient that all mammals get at birth.”