Provided are the use of lipids bearing fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms as pharmaceuticals or nutritional supplement. In particular, such lipids are used in the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, optic and retinal degenerative diseases, demyelinating diseases, neuromuscular disorders and muscular dystrophy, brain or spinal cord nerve injury, amyloid related diseases, other chronic diseases selected from kidney diseases, diabetes or asthma, but also a functional food or food supplement for anti-aging or life-span prolongation and brain function improvement for human and/or animals. Moreover, provided is the herb Ophioglossum which can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of said diseases.