Saturated fat is linked in studies to a lower risk of disease.
On May 18, Seraphina Therapeutics, Inc. disclosed plans to market pentadecanoic acid, or C15:0, a saturated fat. In a Scientific Reports article published online the same day, researchers from Seraphina Therapeutics linked C15:0 to a decreased risk of inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Fall releases of a C15:0 nutritional supplement and an early-2019 release of a C15:0 food additive are planned by Seraphina Therapeutics. Venture capital firm Domain Associates led a $5.5 million Series A fundraise for the startup.
Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, co-founder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics, said, “We surprisingly found a trace saturated fat in butter that is repeatedly demonstrating evidence of broad health effects across a variety of studies.”
C15:0, an odd-chained saturated fatty acid, is present in butter, certain fish, and certain plants. Saturated fat falls into two groups, according to Dr. Venn-Watson: even-chained and odd-chained. Even-chain saturated fatty acids, which are linked to an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, make up the majority of food items.
Dr. Venn-Watson stated, “That’s why we’ve seen so much literature about saturated fats being bad.”
On the other hand, 1% of the fatty acids in full fat milk are C15:0.
Researchers at Seraphina Therapeutics hypothesize that a drop in the consumption of C15:0 has resulted from consumers consuming less full fat milk and butter during the past 40 years. Dr. Venn-Watson stated that the amount of C15:0 in the blood is a biomarker for the amount of dairy a person has consumed. Research has also shown that individuals with high levels of C15:0 have a lower risk of a number of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Though they do so in distinct ways, omega-3 and C15:0 fatty acids are both beneficial to health.
According to Dr. Venn-Watson, “omega-3 and C15 are like the yin and yang of fatty acids.”
According to her, cell membranes are made beautiful and flexible by the entry of omega-3 fatty acids. By strengthening the cell wall and increasing cellular resistance, C15:0 balances out the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the body.
Although C15:0 lacks the sensory problems connected to omega-3 fatty acids from fish, she claimed it should function in food and beverage applications that are appropriate for omega-3 fatty acid inclusions. C15:0 is a powder that has “no taste or bad smell” and is stable at room temperature, according to Dr. Venn-Watson.
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According to her, there are two recognized necessary fatty acids: omega-3 and omega-6. Essential fatty acids are dietary fatty acids that the body needs to maintain a good physiological state, are not produced in sufficient amounts by the body, and must be consumed in food for the body to maintain healthy concentrations, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
The researchers concluded that C15:0 is a dietary fatty acid based on strong evidence. Higher C15:0 food intake has been linked in epidemiological studies to decreased mortality and the development of chronic illnesses such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and pancreatic cancer. Numerous studies show that food consumption, rather than endogenous synthesis, is the primary factor influencing C15:0 blood levels.
Dr. Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist who has previously held positions with the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2017, she was a co-founder of Seraphina Therapeutics. Additional co-founders were principal scientist Nicholas Schork, PhD; board chair Kim Kamdar; and chief operating officer Eric Venn-Watson, MD.