New research may lead to more recommendations that individuals start taking such as omega-3 fatty acids. It has been shown that coronary heart disease patients who had higher levels of the nutrient had a lower rate of cellular aging.

The study, which is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that patients who had a high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids had a lower rate of telomere length, which is a chromosomal marker of biological aging.

Researchers studied 608 patients who suffered from coronary heart disease, which is caused by clogged arteries. They noted that patients who had a higher level of omega-3 fatty acids in their bloodstream had a 32 percent reduction in the chance of telomere shortening, which is a good sign for living longer.

“These findings raise the possibility that omega-3 fatty acids may protect against cellular aging in patients with coronary heart disease,” stated the researchers.

Previous studies have shown several health benefits that omega-3 fatty acids can have for coronary heart disease patients, but scientists have never looked into how the nutrient affects cell life.