Well Being: C15:0 or Pentadecanoic AcidFull-fat dairy, ruminant meat, or Fatty15 -it is all good (for you)!As many of you know, Jill and I take a lot of supplements. One of the rationales behind this is that as we age, our gut becomes less able to absorb nutrients. Hence, many people, as they age, become deficient in micronutrients. With that in mind, combine that with the fact that for the last thirty years, the US government and big pharma have been at war with saturated fat. Particularly dairy fat. Due to government and pharma ad intervention, the average American has significantly reduced their intake of full-fat dairy and cheese. A new supplement has come to my attention that has some very unique clinical benefits. C15:0, also known as pentadecanoic acid, is an odd-chain saturated fatty acid found primarily in trace amounts in dairy fat, ruminant meat (particularly grass-fed meat), some fish, and certain plants (ref, ref). Its chemical structure consists of a 15-carbon saturated chain, making it structurally distinct from the more common even-chain saturated fatty acids. Recent research has proposed that C15:0 may be an essential fatty acid—meaning it is a nutrient needed by the body for maintaining baseline health but not readily produced endogenously, so it must be obtained through diet or supplementation (ref, ref, ref). Higher circulating levels of C15:0 have been associated in epidemiological studies with lower risks of cardiometabolic diseases (like type 2 diabetes and heart disease) and improved health outcomes (ref, ref, ref). Experimental studies have identified anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and metabolic benefits in cell and animal models (ref, ref). Primary dietary sources of C15:0 are whole-fat dairy products such as milk, butter, cheese, and ruminant meat. Typical C15:0 Content in Foods (Approximate Values)
As a supplement, C15:0 is marketed for supporting metabolic, heart, liver, and immune health, but while clinical and cell studies are promising, population-wide long-term effect data and regulatory designation as "essential" are still under scientific review. How the Dolphin Connection Led to the discovery C15:0:
In summary:
Summary: C15:0 (including Fatty15) has undergone peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled human trials showing it can safely raise C15:0 levels and may improve liver and red blood cell health. Broader clinical outcome research is ongoing to further define its effects on metabolic disease, aging, and other health risks (ref). All that said, the team and Venn-Watson co-founded Seraphina, a supplement company to develop and sell Pentadecanoic Acid as a supplement in the U.S. and globally. Fatty15 has an exclusive license from the U.S. Navy to commercialize C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) as a dietary supplement. Fatty15 has 100 mg per serving (capsule). This is a very pure, known concentration. However, going back to the foods that naturally have C15:0, there are other options. One ounce of cheese has 50–130 mg and 3/4 cups of yogurt has 70-100 mg. Remember, dairy fat contains significantly more C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) than most other food sources. C15:0 is recognized as a dietary biomarker of dairy fat intake and is present in its highest concentrations in full-fat dairy products like whole milk, butter, cream, and certain cheeses. One interesting fact is that sheep and goats milk contains much higher levels of C15:0 than other cheeses. Pecorino Sardo and other traditional Sardinian sheep’s milk cheeses are some of the richest sources. Grass-fed pecorino contains up to 1.4% of total fats as C15:0, surpassing cow’s milk butter at 0.8%. According to one source, just half an ounce of grass-fed pecorino can deliver approximately 200mg of C15:0, equal to or more than the daily amount found in the supplements (which have 100 mg per capsule). Cheeses from grass-fed cows, sheep, or goats consistently contain higher levels of C15:0 than those from grain-fed animals. A case study demonstrating the potential benefits of increased C15:0 levels is the high-altitude sheep and goat herders in Sardinia, a famous blue zone with the highest concentration of male centenarians. Up to 25% of their calories come from dairy, particularly pecorino cheese and a soft goat cheese aged 30 days, both of which are high in C15:0. Cell membrane C15:0 concentrations in Sardinians can be up to 0.6%. Cheese Type - C15:0 per 1 oz (28g) serving
On the broader point regarding full-fat dairy and metabolic health:
Following government recommendations to reduce saturated fat, the dietary intake of whole milk dropped fourfold from 1.2 cups per day to about 1/4 cup per day. Unfortunately, this led to a significant reduction in C15:0, ultimately having the opposite effect of what was intended and may have led to more obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Some believe that C15:0 deficiency is contributing to a concerning trend: younger people are increasingly being diagnosed with diseases once thought exclusive to older individuals. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver, which were once rare among the young, are now becoming alarmingly prevalent. An 18-year longitudinal study found that children fed whole-fat milk had lower incidence rates of obesity. Other studies have shown associations between higher dietary full-fat dairy and lower rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Current research suggests a recommended daily intake of C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) of approximately 100–300 mg to achieve and maintain levels associated with beneficial health effects. This proposed range is based on epidemiological and interventional studies linking this intake to improved cardiometabolic, liver, and cellular health, and on pharmacokinetic data suggesting 200 mg per day is needed to achieve desired blood concentrations (ref). Not everyone can find grass-fed or sheep’s milk cheese, plus many people have allergies to dairy or don’t like to eat that much of it. Additionally, the amount of C15:0 varies in food. Also, during travel, eating well isn’t always an option. So, eating a diet rich C15:0 and even considering Fatty15 supplementation is worth considering. Certainly, switching out low or no fat dairy or dairy substitutes is an easy change to make. Eating more whole foods and grass-fed meats makes us healthier. Be healthy, be happy and live a longer life - isn’t that what we all strive for? Invite your friends and earn rewardsIf you enjoy Malone News, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe. |