Omega 7: What To Know About This Fatty Acid

We hear a lot about the different types of fatty acids, including the omegas. Most people assume that omega fatty acids are “good” and other fats, especially saturated fats, are “bad.” Unfortunately, the latest science doesn’t support this idea. 

While some omega fatty acids are essential, some (like omega-7) are not. Likewise, not all saturated fats are bad for us. As we will learn, even some saturated fats are essential for our bodies to thrive. 

Together, we’ll explore the omega fatty acids and highlight the properties of omega-7, a little-known fatty acid that is found in the human body and can be obtained through some plant and animal sources. We’ll discuss whether or not you need omega-7 and also discuss an essential fatty acid that is the first to have been discovered in over 90 years. 

Spoiler alert: Pentadecanoic acid, or C15:0 for short, was recently discovered to be an essential fatty acid that is critical for maintaining long-term health and wellness. 

Which Omegas Are Which?

You’ve heard of omega-3 and omega-6, but what about omega-7? There are, in fact, many types of omega fatty acids. 

Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids are the most popular fatty acids and likely the most highly researched. They include: 

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

Of these three fatty acids, only ALA is considered essential. EPA and DHA are not generally recognized as essential. 

Omega-6

Omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. The two most common omega-6 fatty acids are:

• Linoleic acid (LA)
• Arachidonic acid (AA)

Linoleic acid is considered essential, but most people get plenty of LA from their diets, so supplementation isn’t typically recommended. 

Omega-9

Omega-9 fatty acids don’t often come up in discussions about dietary fatty acids, primarily because they are not considered essential. Non-essential fatty acids can be produced by the body on its own. The most common type of omega-9 fatty acid is oleic acid. 

Omega-7

Another type of omega fatty acid is omega-7. Omega-7 doesn’t get a lot of press. Omega-7 is a monounsaturated fatty acid with seven carbon atoms at the end of the carbon chain. 

The two most common forms of omega-7 are palmitoleic acid and vaccenic acid. Vaccenic acid is a naturally occurring trans fat found in the ruminant fat of animals, like dairy or butter from cows or sheep. 

Palmitoleic acid is found in adipose tissue in the human body and some seed oils. Macadamia nuts are a source of palmitoleic acid. Neither omega-7 fatty is considered essential, but let’s look at how this fatty acid works in the human body.

Omega-7 in the Body

It’s only been in recent years that omega-7 has become more than just a blip on the nutrient radar. As such, we don’t have many studies available to tell us what benefits are available by increasing our levels of this fatty acid. 

Here’s what we know:

• Omega-7 is made by the body through de novo lipogenesis. This is a fancy way of saying that the body makes the omega-7 it needs through the conversion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins (macronutrients) we eat.
  
  
• Omega-7 and all monounsaturated fats are linked to healthy cholesterol and cardiovascular health support.
  
  
• Some proponents of omega-7 supplementation point to its potential to help support the skin barrier, but the studies that support this are limited.
  
  
• There is limited research on whether or not omega-7 may play a role in reducing chronic inflammation. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study concluded that supplementation with omega-7 did not reduce biomarkers for inflammation.

There’s no recommended daily allowance for omega-7, and most people are not deficient. The only way to find out if you are deficient in omega-7 is to have a blood test. 

Sources of Omega-7

Increasing your intake of omega-7 may help you if you don’t eat a lot of foods that contain omega-7. However, most people get plenty from their diets. 

Foods that contain omega-7 include:

• Sea buckthorn oil
• Macadamia nuts
• Anchovies
• Avocado oil
• Olive oil

You can add omega-7 to your diet by increasing your intake of these foods. Keep in mind that these foods do contain added calories, and you probably get enough omega-7 without actively consuming more of these foods than you may already be consuming. 

Bottom Line

Omega-7 is a nonessential fatty acid your body makes from the foods you eat. While omega-7 has some health benefits, the research on increasing omega-7 levels is limited. 

Until we know more about how elevated levels of omega-7 affect our long-term health, there is no need to consume more omega-7-rich foods or take omega-7 supplements unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so. 

If you are looking to increase your levels of beneficial fatty acids, there’s a better option.

C15:0: The Essential Fatty Acid for Longevity

It’s been a long time since an essential fatty acid was discovered; over 90 years, to be more precise. The discovery of C15:0 happened by chance. 

Researchers studying longevity in bottlenose dolphins noticed that populations of these mammals with higher levels of a particular nutrient known as C15:0 had fewer occurrences of age-related diseases. They took their research further and discovered that these healthspan-protective benefits were available to humans, too.

Benefits of C15:0

C15:0 has been shown to strengthen cells and reverse cellular aging. This was first published in Nature Scientific Reports in 2020. Since 2020, more than 100 peer-reviewed publications have established that C15:0 is essential, and further described the benefits of it. 

Specifically, C15:0 restores and revitalizes our long-term health at the cellular level by: 

• Strengthening our cell membranes (and us) against age-related breakdown. Studies show that C15:0 strengthens cell membranes by 80%.
  
  
• Repairing mitochondrial function, which keeps our body’s energy-producers going.
  
  
• Naturally activating receptors (including PPARs and AMPK) that regulate our metabolism, immunity, mood, sleep, and appetite.
  
  
• Naturally inhibiting damaging pathways (including mTOR and JAK-STAT) as a means to support longevity.

• Lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol.

C15:0 also helps improve liver enzymes, supports the gut microbiome, and even targets 6 out of the 12 hallmarks of aging. The giant takeaway is that C15:0 is essential, beneficial, and a key component of protecting our ability to age healthfully. 

Even more impressive is that when tested in a head-to-head study of the purest and most effective form of omega-3, C15:0 was found to have more cellular benefits and be safer for your cells.

As more research was conducted, scientists discovered that not having enough C15:0 in your body could lead to a deficiency syndrome, the first deficiency syndrome to be recognized in over 75 years.

Cellular Fragility Syndrome: C15:0 Deficiency

Not having enough C15:0 is associated with a deficiency known as Cellular Fragility Syndrome. Cellular Fragility Syndrome or CFS weakens our cells and has been directly linked to ferroptosis, a type of cellular death first discovered by researchers at Columbia University in 2012. 

C15:0 nutritional deficiencies and CFS result in our cells becoming fragile and susceptible to lipid peroxidation and ultimately cell death. This process has been linked to Non-alcholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes, heart disease and accelerated aging. Increasing our C15:0 levels can prevent CFS and improve our heart, liver and metabolic health. 

How Much C15:0 Is Needed?

The researchers who studied C15:0 found that most people now have much lower levels than in previous generations, averaging about 0.2% of their total fatty acids. C15:0 levels of less than 0.2% of total fatty acids can result in CFS. 

Levels above that, >0.2% to 0.4% are considered normal. Researchers suggest that optimal levels could be even higher. Notably, the blue zone Sardinian population was noted to have C15:0 levels that measured 0.68%.

How do you find out your C15:0 levels? You’ll need a blood test, which can be ordered from your physician. Or by using an at-home testing kit. 

This kit requires a finger-prick blood sample that is mailed back to the lab. Once analyzed, you’ll receive the results of your test on-line, allowing you to see your current results and track your progress as you increase your C15:0 levels.

How To Elevate Your C15:0 Levels

Most dietary deficiencies can be increased by simply consuming more of the foods that contain that particular nutrient. C15:0, however, is a bit trickier. 

Sources of C15:0

C15:0 is found primarily in whole dairy products like full-fat milk and butter. It’s also found in some fish, but in both dairy and fish, it is only found in trace amounts. 

That means you’d have to consume a lot of extra dairy or fish to get the amount of C15:0 your body needs. While adding a dollop of butter to everything may sound tempting, there are a few reasons why this would be problematic. 

The C15:0 Conundrum

C15:0 is found in small amounts in foods that contain higher levels of unhealthy ingredients. If you were to increase your whole-fat dairy intake to elevate your C15:0 levels, you’d end up consuming a massive amount of calories from dairy that wouldn’t support weight management goals. 

In addition, you’d be consuming excess sugar from lactose and bad, “even-chain” saturated fat that is found in high levels in dairy products. Even chain saturated fat is consistently associated with negative health outcomes, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease

There’s also a problem with bioavailability. In dairy, C15:0 is attached to branches of triglycerides, which must be broken down in the gut to free the C15:0 your body needs. This additional step makes C15:0 absorption less efficient. 

Lastly, there’s the issue of, well, cows. If you’re vegan or simply doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, then consuming more animal-based products isn’t a good solution. Just so you know, plant-based milk is completely void of C15:0, so if you’re consuming almond or oat milk, you won’t get any C15:0.

Don’t worry. There’s a solution, fatty15.

Fatty15: The C15:0 Supplement to Support Longevity

Fatty15 is the first and only supplement that contains the pure, vegan-friendly, sustainably produced, bioavailable, award-winning version of C15:0 known as FA15™. Each daily capsule contains just one calorie and enough C15:0 to restore your levels of C15:0. It’s not mixed with bad fats and is already in free fatty acid form, so your body can easily absorb it. 

Increasing your C15:0 intake can help prevent Cellular Fragility Syndrome and improve your heart, liver and metabolic health. It is one of the smartest and most health-supportive decisions you can make.

Choose Fatty15

Supplementing with a fatty acid is beneficial when you know which one to choose. Although omega-7 has benefits for your body, you’re likely getting plenty of it already. 

Instead, choose the fatty acid that is essential for your long-term health and wellness. Fatty15 is your go-to source for C15:0 supplementation and a core component of anyone's health stack.

Sources:

Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) Fact Sheet on Palmitoleic Acid (Omega-7) | CANSA

Monounsaturated Fats | American Heart Association

Efficacy and safety of oral palmitoleic acid supplementation for skin barrier improvement: A 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study | PMC

Omega-7 Mixed Fatty Acid Supplementation Fails to Reduce Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial | PMC

Efficacy of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acid pentadecanoic acid parallels broad associated health benefits in humans: could it be essential? | Scientific Reports

A review of odd-chain fatty acid metabolism and the role of pentadecanoic Acid (c15:0) and heptadecanoic Acid (c17:0) in health and disease | PubMed

Effect of an Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet and pentadecanoic acid on fatty liver disease: the TANGO randomized controlled trial | ScienceDirect

The Cellular Stability Hypothesis: Evidence of Ferroptosis and Accelerated Aging-Associated Diseases as Newly Identified Nutritional Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0) Deficiency Syndrome | MDPI