Anti-aging: 3 molecules to slow down aging

Stephanie Venn-Watson is a veterinarian-epidemiologist who studied the dolphins of the American navy. It was within the framework of this research which aimed to help dolphins to live longer in good health that it identified a molecule – fatty acid C15 – which is associated with the longevity of these animals. This fatty acid little known to the general public could have applications for human health, as it reveals in its book, The longevity molecule. “If you asked ten longevity experts which is the most likely medication to extend our life and health expectationssaid Stephanie Venn-Watson, Nine (or perhaps ten) of them would probably answer: rapaamycin. »» Let’s see what it is.

Rapamycin

Discovery fortuitously in 1964 in bacteria, rapamycin is a drug used as an immunosuppressant to avoid the rejection of transplant. It could extend life expectancy by inhibiting the MTOR path (an autophagy regulator), as has been shown in mice (1).

Rapamycin owes its name instead of its discovery and its properties, as Stephanie Venn-Watson tells: “It was on Easter Island, among the bacteria that thrive there, that rapamycin was discovered. Its remarkable antifungal properties were quickly revealed, thus worth its scientific name. Indeed, Rapamycin means “rapa”, to designate Easter Island in the local language, and “mycina”, a current term for antimicrobials. »»

Autophagy and longevity

Autophagy is a process that participates in cellular rejuvenation, because it allows you to get rid of the aging and faulty constituents of the cell. Through this process, the cell “eats” its old debris. It is both a process of cleaning and cell renewal: thanks to autophagy, cells digest and recycle their own proteins and at the same time eliminate toxic waste or damaged cellular components. In 2016, Japanese researcher Yoshinori Ohsumi received the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for his research on autophagy. Fasting acts this process.

Rapamycin is particularly interesting to fight against the aging of the organism because of its protective properties against different age -related pathologies. “Its anti -cancer properties are an eloquent example of its remarkable beneficial effects, explains Stephanie Venn-Watson. Rapamycin plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system. It is the key that allows our organism to accept the transplants without rejecting them as foreign bodies, and it offers a mixture of substances with surprising effects, but formidably effective in prolonging longevity – at least in mice. »»

Rapamycin plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system

Although its anti-aging potential has been demonstrated in mice, large-scale studies in humans are lacking to validate its use. Rapamycin is not commonly used medication and there is no vast healthy population who has followed long -term treatment. In addition, this molecule has many side effects. So even if it has a potential in the laboratory, its use in human health to prolong life expectancy is not realistic at present, in view of the current state of knowledge.

Unlike raopamycin, the following medication is already used by a large number of people for another indication: diabetes.

Metformin

Metformin is a cheap antidiabetic which acts on several biological markers of aging. Used for 60 years, it is generally safe for most people, with light side effects. Observation studies suggest that diabetics treated with metformin has an advantage in terms of survival, even when compared to non -diabetic witnesses (2).

Mimetic of calorie restriction, metformin has anti-inflammatory effects, which could also contribute to its ability to slow aging, because chronic inflammation is a characteristic of aging (3). A clinical trial called Tame (Targeting Agging With Metformin) Give the objective of following 3,000 adults for six years to test if metformin delays the appearance or progression of chronic age -related diseases (4). The results of this study are eagerly awaited to find out if metformin can actually be used as an anti-aging treatment.

But let’s come to the least known molecule of the three, to which Stephanie Venn-Watson devotes her book, The longevity molecule.

C15 fatty acid: 0 or pentadecylic acid

Stephanie Venn-Watson became interested in this fatty fatty acid during her work on dolphins, an animal model that is not very exploited in research. However, compared to rodents, the dolphins have assets, because of their size, their lifespan but also diseases linked to aging which they develop as well as humans.

The C15: 0 is a stable saturated fatty acid that fits into lipid bicouches of cell membranes. According to Stephanie Venn-Watson, “It physically strengthens our cell membranes to protect us from lipid peroxidation and age -related degradation. »» People with low circulating concentrations of C15: 0 run a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, foie gras disease, as well as certain cancers (5). This fatty acid also has antimicrobial properties.

Combined, these numerous positive activities of the C15: 0 confirm its role as an essential nutrient to support long -term health. “Our team, as well as many other scientists from around the world, note that the C15: 0 is a molecule that considerably strengthens our cells and increases our resilience to help us live longer and healthier,” explains Stephanie Venn-Watson. The molecule acts in different ways on cellular aging, in particular:

• The C15: 0 stops the senescence of “zombie” cells, damaged aging cells which cease to divide but remain metabolically active. These cells secrete inflammatory factors and contribute to aging and the appearance of diseases;
• The C15: 0 targets inflammation, a process which contributes to the aging of the organism;
• C15: 0 repairs the mitochondrial function. During aging, mitochondria – cell energy power plants – produce more reactive oxygen species, which increases oxidative stress and accelerates aging;
• C15: 0 slows deleterious epigenetic alterations.

So how to integrate this molecule into our diet? “Nutritional deficiencies in C15: 0 occur because we have deleted our main source from C15: 0 (that is to say the fatty matter of milk)”, explains Stephanie Venn-Watson. However, the consumption of whole milk is not necessarily recommended because it also contains other molecules, which are pro-inflammatory. There are high quantities of C15 in the butter and thick cream, but also in meats (lamb, beef) and certain fish. There are also food supplements providing this fatty acid.

Read also: 4 anti-aging supplements that have proven themselves

In conclusion, “We now know that we must maintain a certain rate of C15: 0 (at least 20 μm) to preserve our long -term health. Below this threshold (or 5 μg/ml, or 0.2 % of total fatty acids), we can develop a nutritional deficiency in C15: 0, called cellular fragility syndrome, known as Stephanie Venn-Watson. In this context, our cells become less stable, the levels of lipid peroxidation increase, the mitochondria deteriorate, and a chronic inflammatory state sets up. As our organism does not synthesize enough C15: 0, an external contribution, by food or supplements (around 100 to 200 mg per day) is necessary. »»

To find out more: The longevity molecule