Veterinary Epidemiologist Discovers New ‘Longevity Nutrient’ Found in Cheese

A doctor studying aging dolphins for the U.S. Navy has identified what she calls a “longevity nutrient” that may hold benefits for human health — and she makes sure to include it in her own daily diet.

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist, began working with aging dolphins in 2001. Originally focused on infectious diseases, she quickly shifted her research to chronic and age-related conditions after observing Navy dolphins living significantly longer than their wild counterparts.

Dolphins | Source: Pexels

“While dolphins in the wild typically live to around 20 years old, Navy dolphins were living much longer beyond the ages of 40 and 50,” Venn-Watson told CNBC Make It in February. Some older dolphins developed issues like chronic inflammation or high cholesterol, but others remained healthy.

After analyzing thousands of biological samples collected over five decades, her team identified a common factor among the healthiest aging dolphins: C15:0, a saturated fatty acid previously unknown to researchers. “We thought it was going to be omega-3s... and instead, it was C15:0, a saturated fatty acid I had never heard of,” she said.

The discovery of C15:0 marked the first identification of a new essential fatty acid in over 90 years. Subsequent research has supported its potential to improve health outcomes in mammals. The breakthrough earned Venn-Watson a place on CNBC’s 2025 Changemakers List.

Dolphins | Source: Pexels

To increase her own intake of the nutrient, Venn-Watson consumes foods high in C15:0, particularly grass-fed cheese. “I’ll have a cheese snack almost every day,” she said. “Pecorino, for example, has some of the highest nutritious content, including C15:0.”