Q: Why is inflammation such an important part of the aging conversation today?

This is important because chronic inflammation speeds up the process of aging, related to chronic illness diagnoses and symptoms like lower energy, less mobility, slower recovery, declining cognitive health, and overall feeling less resilient day to day. With today’s science, we continue to discover meaningful nutrition strategies that help support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory pathways.

Q: A lot of people still talk about “anti-aging.” But people are shifting towards thinking about “pro-aging.” What does that mean?

Dr. Kleiner: Pro-aging is a shift in perspective, like thinking about healthspan versus lifespan. It’s not about resisting age. It’s about embracing getting older and supporting your ability to continue to feel, think, and move well.

Anti-aging focuses on what we’re trying to avoid. Pro-aging focuses on what we’re trying to cultivate: vitality, mobility, cognitive clarity, emotional well-being, and the capacity to do the things you love at every stage of life. Nutrition plays a central role in that vision, especially when it comes to managing chronic inflammation and supporting long-term health.

Q: Where do omegas come into the picture?

Dr. Kleiner: Omega-3 fatty acids help lower inflammation in the body. They support the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals in your cells, tissues, and organs.

EPA and DHA from fish oil often get the spotlight, but the body uses many omega pathways, not just one. And those pathways don’t rely solely on pre-formed fish- or algae-derived EPA and DHA. In fact, your body is remarkably capable of creating powerful anti-inflammatory compounds itself when given the right omega-3 building blocks.

Q: We’ve heard for years that people can’t get enough anti-inflammatory EPA and DHA from plant-based omegas. What does this new research show us?

Dr. Kleiner: New research has proven that wrong in a big way.

It shows that a special omega-3 called SDA naturally bypasses the slowest step in the omega-3 pathway, allowing the body to produce EPA and DHA much more effectively.

And there’s another piece: The body converts the plant-based omega-3 ALA into DHA far more efficiently than previously understood especially when SDA is present in adequate amounts. In fact, whole-body DHA conversion from ALA can be up to 48 times higher than what standard blood measures suggest and what we see in the Omega-3 Index.

This is where Ahiflower, which is a plant-based omega regeneratively grown in the UK, becomes particularly compelling. The proof is in the science. 

Q: How does Ahiflower fully support EPA & DHA in our bodies?

Dr. Kleiner: Ahiflower is unique because it naturally combines three key fatty acids—ALA, SDA, and GLA—in levels we don’t see in any other plant or marine oils.

The science shows that SDA in Ahiflower bypasses the liver’s rate-limiting conversion step, helping raise EPA levels up to four times better than flaxseed oil. ALA + SDA support DHA maintenance in the brain and liver at levels comparable to pure DHA supplements. These natural upstream omega pathways produce additional anti-inflammatory metabolites—compounds you don’t get when tissues are saturated with large amounts of pre-formed DHA.

SDA also appears to act as a prebiotic, calming the intestinal environment and supporting gut barrier integrity. Together, these pathways create a broad, flexible anti-inflammatory profile, supporting whole-body wellness in a way that aligns naturally with how the body works.

New research coming from scientists studying Ahiflower is revealing an even broader role for omegas with ALA and SDA plus GLA (you’ll have to tune in to the webinar to hear about GLA!). We typically don’t think about omegas as multi-functional, but Ahiflower truly is multifunctional by enhancing the gut-brain axis, exercise recovery, mobility, glucose control, and more. 

For anyone thinking about shifting from ‘anti-aging’ to healthy and vital ‘pro-aging’, Ahiflower is a powerhouse.

 Q: You’ll be sharing more about this during your Active Aging: Mastering the Market educational session. What can attendees expect?

Dr. Kleiner: This Q&A gives you the introduction. The session will take you inside the pathways of how omega metabolism really works, what the newest discoveries tell us, and why ingredients like Ahiflower are opening doors to new thinking in healthy aging.

If you’re seeking new multifunctional, efficacious, and easy to formulate ingredients, you’ll want to hear this!

Don't miss Dr. Sue Kleiner's presentation, Effective Plant-Based Omegas For A Vital Heathspan — Did Someone Say ‘Pro-Aging’? The session, as well as the entire three-day Naturally Informed educational conference that took place in December 2025, can be viewed on demand at no cost. 

*Content sponsored and provided by Natures Crops International.