Taking a daily omega-3 supplement for three years might help slow down how fast your body ages at the cellular level, making you biologically younger by a few months compared to people who don’t take it.

We analyzed the available evidence on omega-3 supplements and biological aging in older adults, and what we’ve found so far leans toward the idea that daily omega-3 use over three years may be linked to a slower rate of cellular aging, potentially making someone biologically a few months younger than those who don’t take them [1]. This conclusion is based on one assertion that supports the idea, with no studies in our review contradicting it. The evidence we’ve reviewed suggests that omega-3s might influence processes at the cellular level that are tied to aging, such as telomere length or inflammation markers, though we did not examine the exact biological mechanisms. We did not find any research in our analysis that showed omega-3 supplements had no effect or sped up aging. However, the total number of assertions we reviewed is very small — only one — and we did not assess the quality, size, or design of the underlying studies. Because our analysis includes just a single assertion, we cannot say whether this effect is strong, consistent, or applies to everyone. It’s also unclear if the observed change is meaningful in daily life, or if it would last beyond three years. More research with larger groups, longer follow-up, and different populations would help us understand this better. For now, if you’re an older adult considering omega-3 supplements, this one piece of evidence suggests it might help your cells age a little slower — but we don’t yet know how much, for whom, or for how long.