Krill Oil: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
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Scientific name(s)
Euphausia superba
Family or group:
Aquatic Organisms, Fatty Acids
Active ingredients:
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
Astaxanthin
Phospholipids
Choline
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Eye Dryness ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that taking krill oil providing 945 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 510 mg of docosahexaenoic acid per day for 90 days improves general symptoms of dry eye disease by 77% compared to placebo. Taking the krill oil supplement seems to improve tear film stability and eye redness.
Posologie
Oral
5 g
90 - days
oil
Cognitive Performance ✪✪✪✪✪
In a randomized, double-blind study, forty-five healthy elderly men (ages 61-72) were given either a placebo (medium-chain TG), krill oil, or sardine oil. Subjects in all three groups received 2 g of supplements per day for 12 weeks. The daily sardine oil supplementation contained 491 mg of EPA and 251 mg of DHA, while 2 g of krill oil provided 193 mg of EPA and 92 mg of DHA. The sardine and krill oil groups showed significantly higher levels of OxyHb (the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin correlating with cerebral blood flow, increasing during cognitive tasks and used as a measure of cortical activation) compared to the control group. It was demonstrated that krill oil and sardine oil both promoted working memory. However, sardine oil, which contains the larger quantities of these fatty acids, did not demonstrate activation effects concerning the calculation task, and only krill oil, which contains lesser quantities of these fatty acids, was shown to have an effect. The study concluded that fatty acids in phosphatidylcholine form could offer significant benefits for cognitive function.
Posologie
Oral
2 g
12 - weeks
oil
Similar eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid plasma levels achieved with fish oil or krill oil in a randomized double-blind four-week bioavailability study
Enhanced cognitive function and antidepressant-like effects after krill oil supplementation in rats
Plasma Phosphatidylcholine Docosahexaenoic Acid Content and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer Disease: The Framingham Heart Study
Effects of Krill Oil Containing n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Phospholipid Form on Human Brain Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Elderly Volunteers
Arthritis ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and/or osteoarthritis, taking krill oil (Neptune Krill Oil) at a dosage of 300 mg per day for 30 days reduces pain by 38.3% and stiffness by 39.1% compared to placebo. Another Japanese study showed that administration of krill oil (2 g/day, 30 days) significantly improved light knee joint pain, stiffness, and knee flexibility. The results suggest that krill oil could be effective in relieving mild knee pain symptoms. This improvement might be due to the reduction of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators and a slowing down of osteoarthritis progression, as observed in blood markers.
Posologie
Oral
2 g
30 - days
oil
Evaluation of the effect of Neptune Krill Oil on chronic inflammation and arthritic symptoms
Krill oil improved osteoarthritic knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a 6-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Krill Products: An Overview of Animal Studies
Dyslipidemia ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of clinical research shows that taking krill oil reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 15.52 mg/dL in patients with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or normal lipid levels. In a recent study including randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, the effects of consuming Krill oil at a rate of 4 g per day on subjects with fasting triglyceride levels ranging from 500 to 1500 mg/dL were studied. Krill oil significantly reduced triglyceride levels over a 26-week period compared to a placebo. About 1 in 9 patients in the Krill oil group reached triglyceride levels below 500 mg/dL. This study suggests that krill oil could therefore be an option for the management of hypertriglyceridemia.
Posologie
Oral route
1 - 4 g
oil
Lipid-modifying effects of krill oil in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Effectiveness of a Novel c9-3 Krill Oil Agent in Patients With Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Metabolic effects of krill oil are essentially similar to those of fish oil but at lower dose of EPA and DHA, in healthy volunteers
Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia
Krill oil supplementation lowers serum triglycerides without increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with borderline high or high triglyceride levels
Muscle pains ✪✪✪✪✪
Krill oil could reduce muscle damage after exercise. Creatine kinase is an enzyme that plays a key role in energy production in muscles. It is often measured in the blood to assess muscle damage. Indeed, its levels increase in response to muscle injury, such as a lesion or intense exercise. In a clinical trial, men subjected to resistance training took daily 3 g of krill oil, containing 360 mg of EPA, 210 mg of DHA, for three days before physical exercise. This slightly reduced creatine kinase levels in their blood after 24 and 48 hours, compared to a placebo. A slight improvement in agility and muscle strength was also observed.
Posologie
Oral route
3 g
oil
Properties
Anti-inflammatory
Like fish oils, krill oil is of interest for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases. Most potential benefits are attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and krill oils. While much research exists on omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, there is very limited research on the use of fatty acids from krill oil. Preliminary research shows that taking a krill oil product at a dosage of 300 mg per day significantly reduces levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to placebo in people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Other animal research shows that krill oil might reduce infiltration of inflammatory cells into the joints of mice with arthritis. Furthermore, in humans suffering from eye dryness, the intake of fish oil decreases levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17.
Usages associés
Cognitive function
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking 500mg of krill oil twice a day at breakfast and dinner for 12 weeks increases the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin in the cerebral cortex during working memory tasks in older healthy men. The increase in oxyhemoglobin levels correlates with increased brain activity, suggesting that krill oil might help prevent or treat age-related cognitive disorders.
Usages associés
Immunomodulator
Krill oil, like fish oils, plays a beneficial role in the management of autoimmune diseases. It acts by increasing antioxidant enzymes in the liver, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and SOD. These enzymes help protect cells against oxidative damage, which is common in autoimmune diseases. Additionally, krill oil increases the levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, in the liver, while decreasing levels of arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that can promote inflammation.
Usages associés
Cardiovascular
As with fish oils, the use of krill oil is of interest for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Most potential benefits are attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and krill oils. These polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects. Preliminary research shows that taking a krill oil product at a dosage of 300 mg per day reduces inflammation and the expression of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis, conferring hypolipidemic effects.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
Krill oil contains astaxanthin, an antioxidant from the carotenoid family.
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 2 g - 4 g (oil)
Krill oil has been used safely in doses up to 4 g per day in clinical trials lasting up to 3 months; however, most studies did not specifically evaluate the safety or adverse effects.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antiplatelet/Anticoagulant: moderate interaction
Taking high doses of fatty acids from fish oil can slightly decrease platelet aggregation. Theoretically, taking high doses of krill oil with antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications could increase the risk of bleeding. These medications include aspirin, Clopidogrel, dalteparin, dipyridamole, enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin, and others.
Antidiabetics: moderate interaction
Animal research and clinical studies show that krill oil may lower blood glucose levels. Theoretically, krill oil could have additive effects with antidiabetic medications and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. It may be necessary to adjust the doses of diabetes medications. Some medications used to treat diabetes include glimepiride, insulin, metformin, pioglitazone, and rosiglitazone, among others.
Precautions
Allergies: avoid
Theoretically, some people allergic to shellfish might also be allergic to krill oil. People allergic to seafood are advised to avoid or use krill oil supplements with caution.
Pregnant women: avoid
Information is insufficient.
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Information is insufficient.
Children up to 18 years: avoid
Information is insufficient.
Surgical intervention: avoid
It is recommended to stop taking krill oil supplements at least two weeks before any surgery.
