As a very health-conscious person, supplements have always been a key part of my daily routine. One of those has been fish oil pills – I’d read that they help with inflammation and vitamin D absorption, so I’ve been incorporating them since.
Recently, though, I came across new research on another essential fatty acid, C15:0 – the “first essential fatty acid to be discovered since the omegas” and thought, do I really need an omega-3 alternative? What’s all the buzz about fatty15? How can this benefit me?
I want to help answer all that and more for you – what C15:0 is, how it compares to other fatty acid supplements, the benefits it can provide, and if it’s worth it to include fatty15 in your daily supplements.
TLDR; Is Fatty15 Legit?
C15:0 (also called pentadecanoic acid) is clinically proven to boost cellular health significantly more than even the purest omega-3 supplements. But it’s not just another omega-3 supplement – it’s better, broader, and safer at repairing cells and restoring cellular health.
It’s now the third recognized essential fatty acid and is the single ingredient in fatty15’s daily supplement created to promote healthier cells, improve metabolic, heart, and liver health, and protect against aging-related breakdown.
Faty15 Pros + Cons
Pros
Near-term benefits: Better sleep, calmer mood, less anxiety, more energy, less hungry – can be felt within the first few weeks of taking.
Long-term benefits: Improves cellular resilience, promotes healthy skin, glucose levels, and cholesterol levels, and supports liver, metabolic, heart, immune, and red blood cell function.
Vegan: Unlike many omega-3s, fatty15 is vegan, tasteless, and odorless (no fish burps!!). Also, lactose and gluten-free with no preservatives.
Higher quality: You know exactly what you’re getting, where many omega-3 supplements vary in quality, levels of fish oil, contaminants, shelf-life, and smell, plus they negatively impact ocean life.
Longer shelf life: Doesn’t include oils that oxidize over time, so they won’t rancid in the bottle or in your body (like many omega-3 supplements)
Scientifically Validated: Breakthrough discovery backed by a robust collection of more than 50 reliable, peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Cons
Limited Availability: You can’t buy fatty15 at local grocery stores or pharmacies on demand. It is currently only available through Fatty15’s website directly.
Synthesized Product: The single ingredient in fatty15 (FA15™) isn’t sourced from fish. It was, however, carefully synthesized to mimic the exact properties of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) while being >99.5% pure, environmentally sustainable, vegan-friendly, more bioavailable, and meeting diverse dietary needs.
What Makes Fatty15 Unique?
For more than 90 years, alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6) were the only known fatty acids to meet the criteria for being considered “essential”. Essential fatty acids support our cells and balance our immune system, but our body doesn’t make them naturally.
To understand why this new pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) supplement is such a big deal, the discovery story is worth telling. Fatty15 began with observations of dolphins and led to ground-breaking research for the benefit of everyday people.
Yeah, but if you think about it – they’re a lot like us. They live for a long time, they’re social and intelligent, and they, too, can develop aging-related conditions.
Stephanie (DVM, MPH) and Eric (MD, MBA) Venn-Watson were studying why some dolphins developed chronic inflammation, arthritis, high cholesterol, and other diseases later in life, while others did not.
This led to the discovery that healthier dolphins comparatively had a different composition of dietary fatty acids. It was originally assumed that the healthier dolphins would have more omega-3 fatty acids based on their locations and the fish available to eat, but it turned out the healthier dolphins actually had higher compositions of an entirely different fatty acid: C15:0.
Those same fatty acids that dolphins need to stay healthy are also needed by your body for healthy aging. With this C15:0 breakthrough, the single pure ingredient in the fatty15 supplement was created: FA15™.
FA15™ is a >99.5% pure, patented C15:0 powder that harnesses the properties of C15:0 found naturally in some fish. Stephanie and her team worked closely with the Navy to develop this unique ingredient, and there’s significant scientific support for its effectiveness, along with a slew of awards and scientific publications that recognize this pentadecanoic acid supplement for all of its amazing benefits.
It’s the omega-3 alternative we didn’t know we needed.
Fatty15 benefits: Is C15:0 good for you?
Fatty15 contains the odd-chain saturated fatty acid known as C15:0. One study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that humans with higher levels of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acids, including C15:0, had better long-term health, supporting the need to maintain levels in our body to stay healthy.
Fatty15 is a daily oral supplement that works to offset age-related cellular breakdown. The single ingredient – a >99.5% pure C15:0 powder – is a newly discovered essential fatty acid that’s gone through extensive scientific studies. It’s been shown to support bodily functions like regulating metabolism, immunity, mood, sleep, and appetite.
Because everyone is different, some will feel a difference after taking fatty15, while others may not. About 2 out of 3 people report feeling fatty15’s near-term benefits, which can be experienced within the first few weeks, including:
- Deeper, better quality sleep
- Calmer mood, less anxiety
- More energy throughout the day
- Less snacking and less hunger between meals
The longer-term benefits have been backed by substantial scientific evidence and can take 1 to 3 months to start working.
Improves cellular signaling
Cells throughout your body are constantly sending and receiving signals from their surrounding environments, which are critical to metabolic regulation, like cholesterol and glucose homeostasis. C15:0 helps improve the signaling process by binding to cellular receptors known as PPARs (“pee-pars”). One study even found that C15:0 can inhibit signaling in breast cancer cells.
Supports the nervous system
By binding to PPAR receptors that control mood and sleep, C15:0 helps support a balanced mood and helps you rest better in as little as 45 days of continued supplementation.
Boosts Long-term heart health
People who used C15:0 for fatty acid supplementation demonstrated improved tissue and organ function health markers in as little as six months. One scientific study found that odd-chain essential fatty acids, including C15:0, had a significant inverse association with coronary heart disease. Higher levels of those essential fatty acids meant a lower risk of heart disease
Helps with mood regulation
One metabolite of C15:0 is an endocannabinoid, which are chemicals naturally created in the brain that have the same impact as cannabinoids like CBD. It attaches to CB1 and Cb2 receptors that control mood regulation, anxiety, and other emotions. Taking fatty15 consistently can lead to significant antidepressant effects and more pleasant moods.
C15:0 vs Omega-3: Which is Better for You?
With all this info, that’s the new big debate. Is one better for your health, should you be taking them together, should one replace the other?
While both support immune and metabolic health, there are some key differences.
| C15:0 vs Omega-3 | Omega-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dose-responsive cellular benefits | 36 | 10 |
| Cell types repaired? | 10 out of 12 (83%) | 4 out of 12 (33%) |
| Nontoxic to cells? | ✅ | ❌ toxic to 4 out of 12 cell types |
| Resistant to oxidative stress? (shelf life) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Shelf life | Longer than 3 years | Varies by supplement, but many oxidize in bottle |
| Naturally present in? | Dairy, some types of fish and plants | Fish, vegetable oils, nuts, leafy vegetables |
| Vegan? | ✅ | 🟡 varies by supplement |
| Daily required dosage? | 100 mg/day | 2,000-3,000 mg/day |
| Taste and odorless? | ✅ | ❌ most have a fishy smell and taste |
| Benefits | Improved cellular functioning Reduced inflammation Enhanced mood Decreased risk of many life-threatening diseases And many more | Reduced inflammation Lower risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol Enhanced mood Possible reduced risk of heart disease |
| Side effects | Mild gastrointestinal upset or headaches in small percentage of users (less than 0.1%) | Unpleasant taste Bad breath Headaches Heartburn Gastrointestinal distress |
Why We Recommend Fatty15 Over Omega-3
A recent study proving the beneficial activities of C15:0 and its supporting role as an emerging essential fatty acid for both physical and mental health. The results proved that C15:0 effectively impacted 36 biomarkers within ten different human cell systems and was harmful/deadly to NO cell systems.
Although the study was authored by the founder of Fatty15, it’s been peer-reviewed, federally funded (by the Office of Naval Research with approval from the DoD), and third-party tested with repeated results and control systems. Thus, overall, we find the results credible.
And after trying Fatty15 myself for over 6 months, I’ve decided to ditch omega-3. That might not be the best decision for you – check with your doctor first – but here are 7 reasons I prefer it:
1. Long-term benefits
C15:0 improves metabolic, heart, liver, immune and red blood cell health. Contrary to popular belief, omega-3 supplements do not appear to help reduce the risk of heart disease
2. Dose-responsive benefits
Fatty15 has 26+ more clinically-relevant cellular benefits than omega-3s, including multiple immune-calming and immune-balancing activities, and prevents “bad” cells from proliferating.
3. More cells repaired
Fatty15 repairs 2.5x more cell types than omega-3s, including cells relevant to immune, gut, heart, joint, skin, red blood cell, and lung health.
4. Non-toxic to cells
Fatty15 is safe to 100% of cells, while omega-3s were toxic to 33%, including lung and blood vessel cells.
5. Better shelf life/no oxidation
C15:0 is a stable saturated fatty acid that isn’t susceptible to oxidation, so it doesn’t oxidize. When exposed to oxygen, omega-3s go through lipid peroxidation (going rancid), causing 10% of fish oil supplements to contain fewer omega-3s than stated on the bottle.
6. Better taste
On the surface level, for me, the kicker was fatty15’s tasteless quality from being vegan – no fishy burps and aftertaste that come with taking fish oil pills and the upset stomach that I get if I don’t eat immediately after.
7. Smaller pills
I also appreciate how much easier Fatty15 supplements are to swallow than the huge fish oil pills that I was conditioned to choke down.
Should You Stop Taking Omega-3?
First, note that they are two different kinds of essential fatty acids. C15:0 is a healthy odd-chain saturated fatty acid, while omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Both are deemed essential, so you should be sure to get adequate levels of both.
However, if you’re looking for the most comprehensive benefits in one supplement, then fatty15 wins. It offers far more health benefits for more cellular systems of your body and doesn’t go rancid on store shelves like many omega-3 supplements.
And they certainly can be taken together as part of your daily essential fatty acid supplement routine, just make sure you’re taking the highest quality omega supplements you can find so that they aren’t going bad.
Why Are Fatty Acids So Essential?
We’ve used the word essential a lot – the nutrients that our body doesn’t make but are necessary to maintain physiological health. As such, our primary sources of essential fatty acids are food and dietary supplements.
The human body depends on them for everything from metabolism to mood regulation, energy, and many other metabolic processes. When you don’t consume adequate foods rich in fatty acids, you’re at significantly greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and many other diseases common in later life.
There are only three known essential fatty acids:
- An omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid)
- An omega-6 (linoleic acid)
- C15:0
While omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (unsaturated) provide some health benefits, excessive consumption of them is actually linked with unhealthful side effects like low blood pressure, easy bruising, and thinning of the blood. In addition, consuming too much omega-6 may counteract the benefits of omega-3 consumption and has been shown to increase the risk of obesity.
C15:0 is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered, 90 years after discovering omega-3 and omega-6. While it’s available in trace amounts in food, fatty15 is a healthier way to get what your body needs.
Each capsule contains just 1 calorie and has only one ingredient: pure FA15™ . It delivers all the fatty15 benefits without the unhealthful side effects of the even-chain saturated fatty acids found in full-fat cheese and butter.
My Personal Experience Taking Fatty15
After reading about the discovery of c15:0 and all of its clinical benefits, I started thinking about switching. I was already taking omega-3 (fish oil) supplements for their long-term anti-aging benefits, but when I realized c15:0 promised more from less (i.e. no ecological damage from fish farming) — I decided to give Fatty15 a try.
While I don’t claim it’s a miracle supplement with instantly perceptible benefits in the short term, the switch to Fatty15 has brought me greater peace of mind. I’ve enjoyed how small and easy to swallow the pills are and how much better they taste compared to the much larger fish oil supplements. I also appreciate that they provide a re-usable bottle, avoiding discarding more heavy-plastic into the landfill.
More Fatty 15 Reviews: What Do Other Customers Say?
Sure, there’s lots of scientific evidence out there underscoring the benefits of C15:0, but are real fatty15 customers experiencing them? Here’s what users are saying in online reviews:
| Lower blood pressure | “I’ve been on medication for high blood pressure for about a year now… I hadn’t checked my BP since I started fatty15 over a month ago. The last two mornings it was [much improved]!” | Reddit r/Supplements |
| Better sleep | “I started taking fatty15 and my deep sleep and REM sleep increased. Loved that I had my Oura to track that. | Reddit r/OuraRing |
|
“It has been just over 30 days, and I sleep more soundly than I have in years, my skin looks and feels amazingly clear and soft.” |
Facebook fatty15 Reviews | |
| Improved hormones/PCOS | “I have noticed my hormones have definitely improved, and my period has finally regulated back to what it once was. I had no idea that would happen when I started taking fatty15. So in regards to PCOS, I think you’ll find some improvement!” | Reddit r/Nootropics |
| Better skin | “What has helped your skin?” “Fatty15 – I have been off my Humira for about 3 months now, and I haven’t had any flare-ups, no scaling, and very minimal itching…” | Reddit r/Psoriasis |
The Verdict: Is Fatty15 Worth It?
Because this is a relatively new discovery, we know that this is a lot of new information at once. Whether or not you’re currently taking an omega-3 supplement, fatty15 (C15:0 supplement) is an incredible addition to your routine.
We’ve reviewed the science underpinning its efficacy in-depth, but to summarize: the long-term benefits of strengthening your cells can restore balance to your immunity and metabolism, while in the short-term it can help you feel more energized, less stressed, and generally much healthier.
In addition to its superior health benefits, this new essential fatty acid also has a longer shelf life, much better taste, and smaller pill size than the leading omega-3 alternatives. It’s also 100% vegan. So if you can’t or won’t take fish or krill oil supplements, then Fatty15 could be ideal.
My own experience switching form omega-3 to c15:0 have been worthwhile. While I’m not a doctor and strongly recommend you talk to yours before making any changes, Fatty15 has been a welcomed optimization for me. While I haven’t experienced any of the short-term effects, I take peace in the fact that it’s clinically-proven and significantly more sustainably sourced than omega-3 fish oil pills.
One day, C15:0 will be offered in stores, but for now, fatty15 is the only place you can get it as a supplement. They make it easy to order and sign up for automatic refills delivered quarterly for free. You get a 20% discount if you go the subscription route (which we recommend because you should allow at least 3-months to properly test its efficacy anyway).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take for fatty15 to start showing results?
While there’s no guaranteed timeline for noticing effects of Fatty15 (C15:0) because everyone’s body and lifestyle are very different. That said, near-term effects (such as better mood and sleep) are often felt within the first month.
Long-term effects (like reduced risk for heart disease) typically start working between 1-3 months.
How to take fatty15 supplements?
Take one fatty15 capsule per day (with or without food).
Are there any side effects of fatty15 supplements?
None that are a direct result.
Less than 0.1% of customers have reported mild gastrointestinal upset or occasional headaches.
Where do they deliver?
Fatty15 supplements are delivered throughout the United States. International shipping isn’t available at this time.
Who can take fatty15?
Fatty15 is considered safe for anyone aged 4 and up, including pregnant and nursing women.
Because younger people are more likely to avoid whole-fat dairy products, this group may be more likely to be deficient in C15:0. Older adults, however, may have lower C15:0 levels because these levels tend to decline as we age.
Taking C15:0 before the age of 30 can help maintain healthy metabolic functioning. After the age of 30, it can help reverse cellular aging.
Should you start taking a C15:0-rich diet?
While C15:0 is available in trace levels in food, especially whole-fat dairy products, those foods also contain much higher amounts of bad saturated fats that have negative health effects.
The most efficient and healthiest way to consume C15:0 is through a supplement like fatty15, which contains no unhealthy fats, is just 1 calorie per daily dose, and is vegan, non-dairy, and lactose-free.
How much do fatty15 pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) supplements cost?
You have three options for your initial purchase of fatty15:
- 30-Day Trial Kit – $49.95
- 90-Day Starter Kit with Subscription – $119.95
- 90-Day Starter Kit without Subscription – $149.95
Your starter kit comes with an empty glass bottle that you put your supplement into each month. Refills are shipped for free and delivered to your doorstep quarterly. You can cancel your subscription at any time without calling customer service.
Is fatty15 C15:0 good for healthy aging?
Yes, fatty15 can support healthy aging when taken consistently over a long period. It is scientifically proven to:
- Strengthen cell membranes to prevent premature breakdown
- Improve functionality for mitochondria that energize cells and support healthy cellular functioning
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