New research to investigate whether pentadecanoic acid reduces risk of metabolic syndrome

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An upcoming randomized, double-blind, single-center, controlled study will investigate whether supplementation with an odd chain fatty acid called pentadecanoic acid (also known as C15:0) will reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in young adults. The C15:0 used in the study will be in a powdered, vegan, and free fatty acid form called FA15 that is manufactured by Seraphina Therapeutics (San Diego, CA). Seraphina Therapeutics sells FA15 as a finished product called Fatty15. The study is led by Jeffrey Schwimmer, MD, from the University of California, San Diego, who is a pediatric gastroenterologist at The Rady Children’s Hospital. Schwimmer specializes in fatty liver disease, an emerging metabolic disease that now affects one in four adults, and one in ten children, globally.

Previous research¹ from Schwimmer of 237 children, found that higher levels of serum C15:0 was associated with lower amount of fat in the liver. “Based upon our research, it is possible that a fatty acid supplement could make a difference in the lives of many young people. The first step is to affirm that supplementation is able to raise levels of C15:0 in the blood when compared to placebo. We will also look for signs that increasing blood levels of C15:0 leads to changes in physiology that have the potential to be of benefit,” said Schwimmer, in a press release.

Research has also shown that levels of serum C15:0, a biomarker of dairy fat intake, may have an influence on cardiovascular outcomes. For example, a recent article in Plos Medicine² found that in 4,150 subjects, higher serum pentadecanoic acid was associated with lower incidents of cardiovascular disease in linear dose-response manner.

“After years of rigorous science and corroborating global studies, we are boldly bringing FA15 and fatty15 to the world as a pure and vegan-friendly saturated fat that science strongly supports is good for our health,” said Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, CEO and co-founder of Seraphina Therapeutics in a press release. “This clinical trial is a key next step toward demonstrating how FA15 can replenish individuals’ critical C15:0 body levels and restore long-term health and wellness, especially as we age.”

Reference

1. Sawh, MC et al. “Dairy fat intake, plasma pentadecanoic acid and plasma iso-heptadecanoic acid are inversely associated with liver fat in children.” Hepatology, vol. 72, no. 4 (2021)
2. Trieu, K et al. “Biomarkers of dairy fat intake, incident cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: A cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis.” Plos Medicine, vol. 18, no. 9 (2021)