Is this supplement legitimate? Science of Fatty15 and C15:0 | Bill Harris, PhD

The Proof with Simon Hill

Simon Hill

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

You may have heard claims that C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) is the first essential fat discovered in 90 years, a powerful longevity booster, and a game-changer for metabolic health. But how much of this is backed by solid science? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bill Harris, a leading expert in fatty acid research, to critically evaluate the evidence behind C15:0. We break down the population studies linking it to health benefits, the key clinical trials testing its effects, and whether the marketing around Fatty15 is ahead of the actual data. In this episode, we cover: What exactly is C15:0, and how does it compare to other fats? The claim that C15:0 is an essential nutrient—does it meet the criteria? The current evidence on C15:0 and its impact on cholesterol, glucose, and inflammation Does C15:0 supplementation mimic omega-3s, metformin, or rapamycin? The broader issue of patenting a naturally occurring compound For more details and supporting studies, visit the full show notes. Introduction to Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0) (00:00) Evaluating the Claims of C15:0 (02:05 Comparing C15:0 with Other Fatty Acids (03:12) Health Implications of Dairy Fats and the Essentiality of C15:0 (05:02) Scientific Evidence and Studies on C15:0 (13:12) Interpreting Clinical Trial Results, Cholesterol, and the Tango Trial (27:59) Cholesterol and the Tango Trial (28:28) Comparing C15:0 to Omega 3s (32:02) Future Research Directions for C15:0 (37:46) Longevity Claims and Patents (42:30) Final Thoughts and Conclusion (49:44) Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also support the show by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and sharing your favourite episodes with friends and family. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 4 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $350 off at eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. Eimele Eimele Essential 8 is a comprehensive multivitamin that is scientifically formulated to complement your plant-rich diet, increase and sustain your energy, and support the immune system, as well as heart and brain health. Follow this link for 20% off one-time purchases and subscriptions. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on join.whoop.com/simon. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) • Creator of theproof.com • Host of The Proof with Simon Hill • Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: • YouTube • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Instagram: @simonhill • Twitter: @theproof • Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide and download my Two-Week Meal Plan.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Take your health to the next level with the zero cost 12 week living proof challenge.
0:10.0	An evidence-based program that I created to help you optimize your physiology to lower your risk of chronic disease and enjoy more years of good health.
0:19.0	Inside the challenge you'll learn about the 10 truths,
0:22.5	10 important biomarkers to measure that predict your risk of developing disease,
0:27.3	how to calculate your very own longevity score,
0:30.7	and evidence-based protocols to improve on whatever your baseline score is.
0:36.0	Start any time, simply go to theproof.com forward slash living proof
0:41.4	and download the PDF to get started.
0:44.0	That's theproof.com forward slash living proof.
0:58.1	This episode is proudly brought to you by Emil.
1:02.5	My favorite multivitamin by a long stretch is Emile's essential eight.
1:07.3	The right nutrients and the right doses to support a healthy, plant-rich diet.
1:12.5	Optimize nutrient status and leave you feeling at your best. Take your health to another level with Emile's evidence-based essential eight multivitamin by going to
1:17.3	emil.com forward slash Simon for 20% off. That's E-I-M-E-L-E forward-slash Simon for 20% off.
1:35.8	Today we are diving into a different fatty acid.
1:40.6	You've been on the show at least a couple times now talking specifically about Amiga 3s, which is, of course, a primary area of interest in research for you.
1:46.8	But today we're going to talk about penta-decanoic acid, which is a mouthful, and we'll shorten
1:51.9	that to C-15. And I thought maybe I could provide a little bit of a background here for the listeners
1:57.7	as to why we're catching up to talk about this fatty acid in
2:01.8	particular. So this is a saturated fat, an odd chain saturated fat that really has kind of been
2:10.7	thrust into the spotlight by a company called Fatty 15, which is led by a scientist, a veterinary epidemiologist,
2:20.5	Dr. Stephanie Van Watson, who first studied this fat in dolphins.
	...

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