In this episode of The Proof, I sit down with Dr. Bill Harris, a world-renowned fatty acid expert, to take a closer look at C:15, also known as pentadecanoic acid. You may have heard claims that this particular saturated fat is an essential nutrient, a longevity booster, and a powerful tool for improving metabolic health. But how strong is the actual science behind these claims?
Dr. Harris and I dive into the research, what we know, what we don’t, and what needs further investigation. We examine the population studies linking C:15 to better health, the limitations of supplementation studies, and whether the marketing of Fatty15 is ahead of the evidence. We also discuss the broader issue of patents on naturally occurring compounds and what that means for accessibility and scientific integrity.
If you’re curious about whether C:15 is truly an essential fat, whether supplementation is necessary, or whether this is another case of hype outpacing science, this episode is for you.
What We Cover:
- What exactly is C:15, and how does it differ from other saturated fats?
- The claim that C:15 is the first essential fat discovered in 90 years—does it meet the criteria?
- Is C:15 deficiency real? What do we make of “cellular fragility syndrome”?
- The evidence behind C:15’s effects on cholesterol, glucose, liver function, and inflammation
- A breakdown of 2 key human clinical trials looking at C:15
- Longevity claims—does C:15 really mimic metformin, omega-3s, or rapamycin?
- The ethics of patenting a naturally occurring fat—science or just good business?
- What research is still needed to determine if C:15 supplementation is truly beneficial?
- Introduction to Pentadecanoic Acid (C15) (00:00)
- Evaluating the Claims of C15 (02:05
- Comparing C15 with Other Fatty Acids (03:12)
- Health Implications of Dairy Fats and the Essentiality of C15 (05:02)
- Scientific Evidence and Studies on C15 (13:12)
- Interpreting Clinical Trial Results, Cholesterol, and the Tango Trial (27:59)
- Cholesterol and the Tango Trial (28:28)
- Comparing C15 to Omega 3s (32:02)
- Future Research Directions for C15 (37:46)
- Longevity Claims and Patents (42:30)
- Final Thoughts and Conclusion (49:44)
You can learn more about Dr Bill Harris’ research at the Omega Quant and Fatty Acid Research Institute websites. To connect with Omega Quant team, you can access their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
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Enjoy, friends.
Simon
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More about Dr Bill Harris
Dr. Bill Harris is one of the world’s preeminent experts in the field of omega-3 fatty acid research. His work focuses on the roles that these fatty acids play in cardiovascular and neurocognitive health. The author of more than 300 scientific papers on fatty acids and health, Dr. Harris is a professor in the Department of Medicine in the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index, founder of OmegaQuant Analytics, and president and founder of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI).
Resources:
- The Cellular Stability Hypothesis: Evidence of Ferroptosis and Accelerated Aging-Associated Diseases as Newly Identified Nutritional Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0) Deficiency Syndrome
- Efficacy of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acid pentadecanoic acid parallels broad associated health benefits in humans: could it be essential?
- Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0), an Essential Fatty Acid, Shares Clinically Relevant Cell-Based Activities with Leading Longevity-Enhancing Compounds
- Fatty acid biomarkers of dairy fat consumption and incidence of type 2 diabetes: A pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies
- Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia
- Pentadecanoic Acid Supplementation in Young Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Effect of an Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet and pentadecanoic acid on fatty liver disease: the TANGO randomized controlled trial
- Patents held by Seraphina Therapeutics
- Get Fatty15 here.
