The Dr. Hyman Show The Unexpected Dolphin Discovery That May Hold the Key to Longevity | Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson
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Mar 26, 2025 
Join veterinary epidemiologist Stephanie Venn-Watson as she reveals fascinating discoveries from her studies on Navy dolphins. She unveils the essential fatty acid C15:0, found to promote cellular health and potentially slow aging. The conversation dives into how a deficiency in this nutrient could accelerate chronic diseases. With insights illustrated through dolphin health, this discussion connects diet to longevity, suggesting that what we learn from these marine mammals might reshape our understanding of nutrition and human aging.
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Dolphin Longevity
- Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, while working with Navy dolphins, discovered they lived far longer in captivity than in the wild.
- This sparked her research into longevity, focusing on why some dolphins aged slower than others.
C15:0 Discovery
- Some captive dolphins developed aging-related diseases like inflammation, high cholesterol, and even Alzheimer's-like symptoms.
- This led to the discovery of C15:0 as a key predictor of healthy aging in dolphins through metabolomic analysis of their blood.
C15:0 as an Essential Fatty Acid
- C15:0, a saturated fat, is an essential fatty acid crucial for cellular health.
- It's the first essential fatty acid discovered in 90 years, challenging the notion that all saturated fats are harmful.
