Krill Oil: The Most Powerful Omega-3

TABLE ON CONTENT

1.     The Vital Lipid of Krill

2.     Krill Oil and Fish Oil

3.     Health Benefits of Krill Oil

• Relieves Premenstrual Syndromes
• Regulates Cholesterols, Triglyceride and Blood Sugar Level
• Improves Memory and Cognitive Function
• Lowers C-Reactive Protein (Inflammation)

4.     Conclusion

Krill are small crustaceans that can be found in all the world’s oceans and belong to the same animal family as shrimp, lobsters and crabs. Krill feed exclusively on algae, the primary producers in the marine food chain, so there is little chance for them to “bio-concentrate” toxins as do many fish.

There are more than 80 different known krill species. Among these, the Antarctic krill, called Euphausia superba, is the kind of krill that can be fished, because it lives in large swarms and swims in open water. It is made up of 40% PLs (phosphate-dylcholine), 30% EPA and DHA, Astaxanthin, Vitamin A, Vitamin E and various fatty acids.

The Vital Lipid of Krill

Like fish oil, krill oil also contains both omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA, but formed together in a different form. In fish oil, these omega-3 fatty acids are found in the triglyceride form, whereas in krill oil they are formed up in a double chain phospholipid structure, making them much more absorbable for the body.

In addition to its phospholipids, krill oil also contains choline, a vital nutrient that holds a wide range of roles in the human metabolism and is naturally found in many foods (such as broccoli, eggs, milk, beef and more) Not only is choline crucial for cell structure, functioning, and signalling, it also supports liver, heart, and cognitive health.

Krill oil also naturally delivers the antioxidant astaxanthin. This antioxidant serves as a natural stabilizer for the omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil, therefore no added antioxidants are necessary to preserve the oil. Astaxanthin is also gives krill oil its bright red colour!

Krill Oil and Fish Oil

Many people wonder why Krill oil is so much more powerful than fish oil. The answer lies in their composition. Krill oil comprised of phospholipids (for the 30–65%) and triglycerides, while fish oil comprises of only triglycerides. Krill oil also contains various potent antioxidants, including vitamins A and E, and astaxanthin, whose capacity of absorption of oxygen radicals proved to be 34-times higher than one of Coenzyme Q10 and 48-times higher than one of fish oil.

Krill oil also naturally delivers the antioxidant astaxanthin that serves as a natural stabilizer for the omega-3 fatty acids, provides shelf-life stability to the krill matrix. Fish oils lack astaxanthin and are far more vulnerable to rancid breakdown.

Health Benefits of Krill Oil

Although krill oil is a relative newcomer to the supplement industry (fish oil, especially cod liver oil, has been around for much longer), researchers have been researching on the effects of krill oil on human health for over a decade with several studies documenting the health benefits. Here are the potential specific health benefits of krill oil and its comparison to fish oil through research.

• Relieves Premenstrual Syndrome

A large proportion of women encounter premenstrual problems that affects their life quality with negative mood and mental states, generated by pain and physical problems. There are some evidence that krill oil may help women manage symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and period pain.

A research where 70 women were randomly assigned to take either krill complex or fish oil for the relief of premenstrual complaints, showed that those taking krill oil encounter lesser menstrual pain and less likely to turn to over-the-counter medicines to manage their period pain compared to the other women.

• Regulates Cholesterol, Triglyceride and Blood Sugar Level

High total and LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides, are proven risk factors for cardiovascular disease and are also linked to premature memory decline. A research conducted on 120 men and women with blood lipid problems showed that krill has not only significantly lowered total and LDL cholesterol and elevated HDL cholesterol, but with increased intakes also significantly lowered triglycerides and fasting blood glucose.

• Improves Memory and Cognitive Function

With a growing proportion of elderly in our society, more attention is drawn to issues on mental and cognition health. Low levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in the blood or inadequate intake of Omega-3s in the diet have been associated with reduced cognitive function and memory.

A study involving 45 healthy elderly males showed that those who received 12 weeks of krill oil treatment displayed significantly greater changes in oxygenated blood concentrations in the left frontal area compared to fish oil, which suggest that intake of Krill oil enhances the function of the cerebral hemisphere relating to calculation.

In addition, prior data suggest that Krill oil could influence early brain development and mental performance, improving cognition, behaviour and mood!

• Lowers C-Reactive Protein (Inflammation)

Blood CRP reflects inflammatory activity occurring virtually anywhere in the body, an high CRP is a strong predictor of future risk for cardiovascular disease. Reducing your levels of overall inflammation may have a positive effect on more than your joints—it may also help to reduce your risk for many serious diseases including heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and even depression.

In another study, 90 subjects with severe joint complaints and/or cardiovascular problems were randomized to receive either krill oil (300 mg per day) or a placebo. At day seven, krill had significantly improved joint pain (by 29 percent), joint stiffness (by 20 percent), and functional impairment (by 30 percent). CRP was already significantly lowered. By day 30, those on krill had dramatically lower CRP (by 31 percent). Their joint pain was 38 percent lowered, stiffness was 39 percent improved, and function was 36 percent improved, versus no improvement in the placebo group. The results of the study clearly showed that krill oil significantly inhibits inflammation and improves arthritic symptoms.

Conclusion: Krill oil is a marine phospholipid complex of choline and omega-3s which are unique cell membrane building blocks. They literally feed our cell membranes, which are fundamental to our life processes. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in krill oil are important for optimal heart, brain, eye, joint and skin health, and they contribute to reducing inflammation in the body. Krill oil is clinically shown to raise the Omega-3 Index, a measure of overall omega-3 status in the body. A higher Omega-3 Index is associated with better, overall health!

The Norwegian Fish Oil® Omega 3 with Krill Oil 1st in the world to combine the goodness of pure fish and krill oil into one powerful softgel, Norwegian Fish Oil® Omega-3 with Krill Oil goes beyond what normal Omega-3 supplement can do. This unique formulation provides synergistic 2-in-1 benefits for protecting the heart & destroying free radicals. Its antioxidant activity is 300 times more powerful than Vitamin A&E, 34 times more powerful than CoQ10, 15 times more powerful than Lycopene, and is 100% bioavailable & absorption.

References:

Krill Vital Lipid Nutrients (online) Available at: www.totalhealthmagazine.com/Vitamins-and-Supplements/Krill-Vital-Lipid-Nutrients.html. [Accessed on 17 Feb.2021]

Krill Oil: Evidence of a New Source of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids with High Bioavailability (online) Available at: https://doi.org/10.2217/clp.14.67. [Accessed on 18 Feb.2021]

Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea. (online) Available at: http://archive.foundationalmedicinereview.com/publications/8/2/171.pdf.
[Accessed on 19 Feb.2021]

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. (online) Available at: http://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s50349.  [Accessed on 19 Feb.2021]

Comparison of C-Reactive Protein and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in the Prediction of First Cardiovascular Events. (online) available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1062-1458(03)00036-9. [Accessed on 19 Feb.2021]

 Evaluation of the Effect of Neptune Krill Oil on Chronic Inflammation and Arthritic Symptoms. (online) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2007.10719584. [Accessed on 19 Feb.2021]