June 16, 2025

262: Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill: The Longevity Nutrient: Unlocking Cellular Pathways to a Longer Life with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH

47 minutes

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of C15, a newly recognized essential fatty acid, and its implications for longevity and health. Our guest, a leading expert in the field, Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson shares her insights into the discovery and significance of C15, drawing connections between human health and findings from dolphin studies.

Website - https://fatty15.com/JILLCARNAHAN

Key Discussions: ① The Discovery of C15: 👉 C15 is identified as the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years, crucial for maintaining baseline health. 👉 The discussion highlights the historical shift away from full-fat dairy, leading to a decline in C15 levels in the population.

② C15 and Longevity: 👉 The episode explores the cell membrane pacemaker theory of aging, emphasizing the role of stable fatty acids in extending lifespan.

③ C15 is shown to activate AMPK and inhibit MTOR, pathways associated with longevity. 👉 Health Benefits of C15:

④ C15 is linked to lowering inflammation, repairing mitochondria, and improving gut health. 👉 Clinical trials indicate that increasing C15 levels can improve liver enzymes, gut microbiome, and reduce LDL cholesterol.

⑤ C15 in Disease Prevention: 👉 Higher C15 levels are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. 👉 The molecule helps stabilize cell membranes, preventing oxidative stress and cellular damage.

📌Practical Applications and Future Research: 👉 The potential for C15 to be a game-changer in dietary supplements and its role in preventing chronic diseases is discussed. 👉 Ongoing research and global studies continue to validate the essential nature of C15.

📌Resources: ✅ Links to studies and further reading on C15 and its health benefits. https://fatty15.com/blogs/news ✅ Information on how to test for C15 levels in the blood. -https://connect.gdx.net/products/nutrition-fatty-acids ✅ Website - https://fatty15.com/JILLCARNAHAN

👩🏻‍⚕️ Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson - https://fatty15.com/JILLCARNAHAN Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist with over eighty peer-reviewed scientific publications and seventy patents. Stephanie discovered the health benefits of C15:0 while working for the US Navy to continually improve the long-term health of Navy bottlenose dolphins. While seeking to understand why some dolphins were aging at healthier and slower rates than others, Stephanie applied an advanced technology called metabolomics on archived dolphin serum to discover which molecules predicted the healthiest aging dolphins. Here, she discovered C15:0 as a healthy saturated fatty acid. Upon completing eight key studies over three years, she presented C15:0 as the first essential fatty acid to be found in almost 100 years.

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By Dr. Jill Carnahan

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