A recent scientific discovery may explain why some of us are aging faster than we should, resulting in impaired metabolic, liver, and heart health. This condition is called Cellular Fragility Syndrome [*] and it’s caused by a deficiency in a nutrient called C15:0.
Cellular Fragility Syndrome is likely impacting as many as 1 in 3 people, so let’s take a closer look at this syndrome and what it means to those of us who are already feeling the real effects of aging during our perimenopausal and menopausal years.
What is C15:0, and how have we become deficient in this good fat?
C15:0 (also known as pentadecanoic acid) is an odd-chain saturated fat. While we’ve long been taught to lower our dietary intake of all saturated fats, it ends up that C15:0 is a good fat. C15:0 is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in over 90 years, since omega-3.
“Essential” means that our bodies must have a certain level of C15:0 to maintain long-term health. Essential fatty acids create better skin, hair, and nails, repair age-related damage to cells, and activate pathways that regulate sleep and mood.
Since our bodies don’t make enough C15:0, we have to get it routinely from our diet.
A primary source of C15:0 has long been whole-fat dairy products. Unfortunately, C15:0 levels have decreased because people generally are eating less whole-fat dairy. Additionally, C15:0 levels naturally decline as you get older.
What are the symptoms of a C15:0 deficiency (aka Cellular Fragility Syndrome)?
C15:0 is a sturdy fat that keeps your cells strong. When your cells don’t have enough C15:0, they become fragile and age faster. And when your cells age, your whole body ages, too.
This is why the symptoms of Cellular Fragility Syndrome may include fatigue, poor sleep, and general feelings of “getting older.” As C15:0 deficiency advances, it can negatively affect your metabolic, liver, and heart health.
Is there a test for C15:0 deficiency?
Yes. Some doctors already routinely test for C15:0 levels as part of a fatty acid panel. There is also an at-home C15:0 test available. Currently, people who have C15:0 blood levels < 0.2% of total fatty acids are considered deficient.
Just as importantly, your doctor can test for clinically relevant signs of Cellular Fragility Syndrome, including high red blood cell distribution width (RDW), high ferritin, and elevated liver enzymes.
How do you optimize your C15:0 levels?
The good news is that C15:0 deficiencies can be fixed. A team of scientists and doctors from the U.S. Navy spent 10 years developing fatty15, a pure, vegan-friendly, and science-backed C15:0 supplement that provides just the right amount of daily good fat–without the saturated fats that are present in dairy products.
Even better news? In addition to improved long-term health, over half of fatty15’s customers report feeling better, including experiencing deeper sleep and a calmer mood, or improved joint comfort within two weeks of consistent use.
Fatty 15 helps reverse 36 clinically relevant and aging-associated changes at the cellular level, effectively protecting your cells (and you) against age-related breakdown.
Learn more about how to restore your C15:0 levels and strengthen your cells against aging at fatty15. Use code DRSTEPHANIE to get an exclusive 10% discount on the 90-day subscription starter kit.