The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging Book

Discover the Story Behind a Nutrient Gaining Global Interest

In The Longevity Nutrient, Dr Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist and former US Navy researcher, shares the fascinating journey that led to the identification of C15:0—a fatty acid found in foods such as whole milk, cheese, and fatty fish.

Originally studying healthy ageing in dolphins, Dr Venn-Watson’s work uncovered a molecule that’s now the subject of growing scientific attention. With engaging storytelling and a science-backed perspective, The Longevity Nutrient introduces readers to the history, discovery, and ongoing research into C15:0—described by some experts as a “groundbreaking, once-in-a-century discovery” (Mark Hyman, MD).

While research is still developing, C15:0 is being explored for its potential role in supporting healthy ageing and long-term wellbeing. This book offers an accessible overview of the early findings, how this nutrient fits into the broader nutritional landscape, and why it has sparked interest across fields of health and longevity science.

A compelling read for those interested in nutritional science, healthy lifestyle choices, and emerging research on diet and wellbeing.

About the Author

Dr Stephanie Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist with more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 70 patents. While working with the US Navy to support the long-term health of bottlenose dolphins, she led a research programme exploring the biology of healthy ageing in marine mammals.

Through the use of advanced metabolomics, Dr Venn-Watson identified C15:0—a fatty acid found in certain whole foods—as a molecule of interest associated with dolphins showing markers of healthy ageing. Following three years of research and eight key studies, she presented C15:0 as the first essential fatty acid to be proposed in over 90 years.

Her cross-disciplinary “One Health” approach, which connects human and animal health research, has been featured by NPR’s Science Friday, The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, and other international media outlets.