Seraphina Therapeutics, a supplement company specializing in the discovery and development of micronutrients, recently launched Fatty15, a supplement which contains an odd-chain fatty acid called C15:0 which is found in trace amounts in dairy products.
 
As the first potential essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years, in vitro and in vivo research, discussed in a review published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests that this compound may have a number of beneficial physiological mechanisms which could attenuate a number of inflammatory conditions, regulate metabolism, and repair mitochondrial function.
 
This essential fatty acid was discovered by Seraphina Therapeutic’s founders, Drs. Eric and Stephanie Venn-Watson, who were conducting research on bottlenose dolphins, during which they found that dolphins with higher serum odd-chain fatty acids had a lower risk of metabolic syndrome and liver disease.
 
Because butter, and other forms of saturated fats, have been depleted from our diets on par with health recommendations, the Venn-Watsons believe that there is an endemic deficiency of this essential fatty acid which could be partly to blame for the prevalence of chronic metabolic conditions in spite of population wide trends of saturated fat reductions over the past few decades. The company also points to a large scale study involving over 14,000 people who were tracked for over 14 years, which found that people who had more C15:0 in their diet had reduced incidences of all-cause mortality throughout the study period.
 
In terms of short-term benefits, the company suggests that C15:0 might offer sleep support, a boost in energy, and overall support for general health and wellness.
 
“With the many promising health benefits published about C15:0 in Scientific Reports, we initially thought to develop C15:0 only as a prescription medication targeting specific metabolic and inflammatory conditions,” Stephanie Venn-Watson, CEO and co-founder of Seraphina Therapeutics, said. “When the coronavirus pandemic hit, it underscored the additive impact of underlying poor global health conditions and the growing number of susceptible older individuals, and we recognized a greater, immediate need for Fatty15 as a consumer-based health and wellness option to restore C15:0 levels and support general health, especially with age.”
 
Fatty15 is free of preservatives, fillers, oil, animal byproducts, corn, soy, and artificial colors. It is vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Fatty15 sends customers a reusable, refillable glass bottle with an eco-friendly bamboo top that fits up to a 90-day supply, with refills shipped quarterly for a reduced environmental impact.
 
Since announcing the discovery of this new essential fatty acid, the company has raised $6.2 million from biotechnology investors as part of its Series A financing round. The company will also be launching FA15, a pure powder form of C15:0, as a food ingredient. There are plans to further study the role of C15:0 as a prescription therapeutic for related nutritional deficiencies.
 
“Our bodies do not make essential fatty acids naturally. We therefore have to get them through our diet or supplements like the well-known omega-3 and omega-6, and now with Fatty15,” Nicholas Schork, PhD, scientific director for the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Aging-sponsored Longevity Consortium. “With C15:0 there is now a new essential fatty acid we didn’t realize we were missing that we can take to enhance the maintenance of normal functioning during the aging process and avoid many untoward health consequences of aging, which is a pretty remarkable breakthrough.”