Numerous studies have shown that people with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations have a lower risk having or developing type 2 diabetes. These studies were performed by prestigious research teams around the world, including Sweden, England, Canada, and Asia. One study showed that pregnant women with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations had a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes.

These benefits are likely due to C15:0’s demonstrated ability in animal models to and positive associations in human studies with:

• Lower glucose and promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake
• Healthier fasting glucose and glucose tolerance
• Lower total and LDL cholesterol
• Lower triglycerides
• Lower adipokines
• Support healthier body weight
• Activate PPAR-ɑ/δ receptors, which regulate metabolism
• Activate AMPK, which regulates cellular homeostasis

Multiple studies have shown that people with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations have a lower risk of having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and severe nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, including children. NAFLD now affects 1 in 3 people, including 1 in 10 children, globally. It has been hypothesized that nutritional C15:0 deficiencies may be driving the global pandemic of fatty liver disease.

C15:0’s liver health benefits may be due to its demonstrated ability in relevant models to and positive associations in human epidemiological studies with:

• Lower severity of liver fibrosis
• Stop fibrotic cells from proliferating
• Prevent damaging iron deposition in the liver
• Lower inflammation
• Lower AST. ALT and GGT
• Activate PPAR-ɑ/δ receptors, which can help protect the liver

People with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations have lower inflammation. Additionally, a study evaluating a model of arthritis demonstrated that higher C15:0 concentrations in the serum and joint fluid was associated with a lower risk of joint degradation and osteoarthritis.

These benefits may be due to C15:0’s demonstrated ability to:

• Activate PPAR alpha/delta receptors and inhibit JAK-STAT signaling, both of which lower inflammation.
• Lower many pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, MCP-1, PAI-1, and VCAM-1.
• Decrease inflammation in human cell systems mimicking chronic inflammation.
• Decrease pain by raising circulating concentrations of pentadecanoylcarnitine (PDC), a C15:0 metabolite that naturally activates CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Dozens of large, prospective cohort studies have consistently shown that people with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations are less likely to develop heart disease, including coronary heart disease, first myocardial infarction, and heart failure.

These benefits may be due to C15:0’s demonstrated ability in relevant models to and positive associations in human epidemiological studies with:

• Lower total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, ApoA1 and ApoB
• Lower, healthier blood pressure
• Activate PPAR-alpha receptors, which can lower triglycerides
• Activate PPAR-delta receptors, which can be heart protective
• Direct, broad, dose-dependent and clinically relevant beneficial activities across multiple primary human cell systems mimicking cardiovascular disease.

People with higher circulating C15:0 levels have a lower risk of having a variety of cancer types, including breast, small lung cell, squamous cell, colorectal, pharyngolaryngeal, and hematological cancers. C15:0 has direct anticancer activities and phenotypes.

Specifically, C15:0:

• Is an HDAC6 and JAK2/STAT3-inhibitor, which can slow or stop cancer cell proliferation.
• At higher doses, has clinically relevant cell-based activities that closely match that of gemcitabine and paclitaxel, two common anti-cancer therapeutics.
• Has strong dose-dependent antiproliferative effects on multiple cancer cell types, including human breast cancer (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), lung cancer (A549), pancreatic cancer (PANC-1), and liver cancer (HepG2) cells.
• Reverses tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells.
• Improves upon gemcitabine anticancer activities, including in vivo

C15:0 and its metabolite, pentadecanoylcarnitine (PDC), can cross the blood-brain barrier and have targeted cell-based activities that support brain, cognitive, mood and sleep health. People with higher circulating C15:0 concentrations are less likely to have anxiety and distress.

Demonstrated C15:0 and PDC activities include:

• Anti-inflammatory activities, including IL-6 and MCP-1, which can support brain health.
• Activation of PPARɑ, which can support cognition, mood, brain and sleep health.
• Cell-based activities that closely matched bupropion.
• Raised circulating concentrations of pentadecanoylcarnitine (PDC), a C15:0 metabolite, that naturally activates CB1, CB2, 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors, which support brain health, cognition, mood, and sleep health.

One study by Fonteh et al. showed that people with higher C15:0 in their cerebral spinal fluid were less likely to have Alzhiemer’s disease.