Fatty15 Named Supplement of the Year—Again. Here’s Why We’re Paying Attention At WellCentric Health

At WellCentric Health in Reno, our mission is to help you live not just longer, but better. We’re not talking about just squeaking by without disease—we’re talking about thriving. That means better energy, clearer thinking, resilient metabolism, and a body that holds up well through the years. To get there, we keep a close eye on what the science is revealing—especially when it offers something that might shore up your health from the inside out.

Recently, a supplement called Fatty15 caught our attention. It features a little-known fatty acid called C15:0, and it was just named Supplement of the Year for the second year in a row by the Mindful Awards. No marketing fluff here—the award recognizes science-driven innovations that have meaningful impact on human health. And while we don’t get too excited about shiny trophies, we do take notice when research suggests a nutrient may be filling a gap that modern diets (and modern cells) desperately need.

C15:0—The Unsung Fatty Acid That Might Just Be a Big Deal

Let’s start with the basics. C15:0, or pentadecanoic acid (say that three times fast), is what’s known as an odd-chain saturated fatty acid. It’s naturally found in full-fat dairy, ruminant meats (like beef and lamb), and certain fish. But—and here’s the kicker—it’s not something we’re getting much of these days. More on that in a minute.

C15:0, or pentadecanoic acid, is what’s known as an odd-chain saturated fatty acid, naturally found in full-fat dairy, ruminant meats, and some cold-water fish. Unlike the more commonly discussed even-chain saturated fats, odd-chain fats like C15:0 are now being recognized for their distinct and beneficial effects. Rather than promoting inflammation or metabolic dysfunction, C15:0 appears to do the opposite: it supports cellular stability, reduces inflammatory signals, improves metabolic function, and may even activate longevity pathways inside our cells.

• It activates AMPK (a cellular energy sensor that’s also triggered by fasting and exercise)
• It lowers inflammatory messengers like TNF-α and IL-6
• It helps improve insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles
• It even shows potential to support mitochondrial function and red blood cell strength

Basically, it looks like C15:0 tells your cells, “Let’s clean house, burn fat efficiently, and keep things calm in here.”

A Discovery That Started With Dolphins

Now, this is where it gets interesting—and kind of fun. The discovery of C15:0’s benefits didn’t start with humans. It started with dolphins. Two groups of Navy dolphins—one on the East Coast and one on the West—were aging very differently. One pod was developing age-related illnesses like fatty liver and inflammation, while the other was swimming through life like it was no big deal.

Researchers noticed the difference in their diets. The healthy dolphins were eating fish naturally higher in C15:0. When the others were given the same kind of fish, their metabolic health improved. It was one of those unexpected “huh” moments that sparked years of study—and ultimately pointed to C15:0 as a nutrient that may play a major role in human health too. If you enjoy a good science-meets-mystery story, you can watch the full tale here. It’s worth a few minutes.

Why Most Of Us Aren’t Getting Enough

You might be wondering: if C15:0 is so helpful, why haven’t I heard about it? Or more importantly—why am I not getting enough? 

It turns out that C15:0 is mostly found in foods we’ve been told to avoid for the last 40 years: full-fat dairy, butter, red meat. As a result, most modern diets—especially low-fat, plant-based, or ultra-processed ones—offer almost none of it. Even those who eat well might be missing out unless they’re getting quality sources from pasture-raised animals or grass-fed dairy.

That absence may be more than just a nutritional footnote. Research has linked low levels of C15:0 to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cognitive decline. Some researchers are calling it a modern “cellular fragility” problem—our cells are more vulnerable, more inflamed, and less resilient, partly because they’re missing stabilizing fats like this one.

So What Makes C15:0 So Special?

What’s impressive about C15:0 is that it doesn’t just show up—it actually does something. It turns on and off  key switches inside your cells, some of the same ones influenced by fasting, movement, and medications used to promote metabolic longevity.

For example, C15:0:

• Activates AMPK, which helps your body burn fat, make energy, and clean up damaged components
• Inhibits mTOR, which when overactive, drives aging and inflammation
• Modulates PPAR receptors, which regulate fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity
• Lowers inflammatory cytokines while protecting red blood cells and mitochondria from damage

In short? It appears to help your cells function better, age more gracefully, and weather stress more efficiently.

The WellCentric Perspective

We’re not in the business of jumping on supplement bandwagons—but we are in the business of watching the science and helping our clients make smart, individualized decisions. C15:0 isn’t a cure-all, and it’s not meant to replace other essential nutrients. But we think it’s worth paying attention to, especially for people who:

• Avoid full-fat dairy or red meat
• Struggle with chronic inflammation or metabolic imbalance
• Want to support healthy aging and mitochondrial function
• Feel like their resilience just isn’t what it used to be

As always, we view supplementation as a support tool, not a substitute for the foundations of health: whole foods, movement, restful sleep, stress recovery, circadian alignment, and community. But when a nutrient like C15:0 checks this many boxes—and has this much early promise—we’re interested. And we think you might be too.

If you’d like to explore whether C15:0 might be a valuable part of your personal plan, we’re happy to talk it through with you. Our goal is always the same: to help you live longer and live better—with fewer surprises and more vitality, at every age.

So, be aware, health isn’t just about avoiding disease. It’s about giving your body what it needs to thrive.

Shop Fatty15 Here!