Nutritional Benefits of Krill Oil
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Composition of Krill Oils
The term Krill is derived from the Norwegian description for "young fry of fish". Krill are marine crustaceans that belong to the order Euphausiacea. Although there are many species of Krill only Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) and Pacific Krill (Euphausia pacifica) have been harvested for human consumption. Krill look like tiny shrimp and weigh less than 2 grams and are 6–8 millimeters in length. Krill are found in large swarms that may contain as many as 1 million animals in each cubic meter of seawater. This dense population of swarms make Krill an ideal species for harvesting. In fact, it is this clustering of Krill that make them ideal food for whales, seals, and sea birds.
Nutritional Benefits of Krill Oil Consumption
Numerous clinical benefits have been ascribed to the consumption of diets high in omega-3 PUFAs. Because fish oils harbor EPA and DHA primarily in the form of TAGs, whereas Krill oils contain these fats in PLs, and given the higher efficiency of absorption and tissue distribution of EPA and DHA derived from PLs, it is suggested that consumption of Krill or Krill oil will have higher clinical significance compared to fish or fish oils. Whereas the clinical literature is ripe with the benefits of fish oil, the clinical benefits of Krill and Krill oil consumption are only just emerging. Many of the benfits of Krill oil overlap those of fish oils, i.e. prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory and neurological disorders, and prevention and reversal of insulin resistance. The presence of astaxanthin is thought to be the responsible agent for the observed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hypolipidemic effects of Krill oil.
Supporting Research
Kidd, PM 2007. Omega-3 DHA and EPA for cognition, behavior, and mood: clinical findings and structural-functional synergies with cell membrane phospholipids. Alt. Med. Rev. 12(3):207-227.
Ierna, M, Kerr, A, Scales, H, Berge, K, and Griinari, M 2010 Supplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis. BMC Musculoskel. Disord. 11:136.
Tou JC, Jaczynski J, and Chen YC. 2007. Krill for human consumption: nutritional value and potential health benefits. Nutr. Rev. 65(2):63-77.
Tandy S, Chung RW, Wat E, Kamili A, Berge K, Griinari M, and Cohn JS 2009. Dietary krill oil supplementation reduces hepatic steatosis, glycemia, and hypercholesterolemia in high-fat-fed mice. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57(19):9339-9345.
Bridges KM, Gigliotti JC, Altman S, Jaczynski J, and Tou JC 2010. Determination of digestibility, tissue deposition, and metabolism of the omega-3 fatty acid content of krill protein concentrate in growing rats. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58(5):2830-2837.
Zhu JJ, Shi JH, Qian WB, Cai ZZ, and Li D 2008. fects of krill oil on serum lipids of hyperlipidemic rats and human SW480 cells. Lipids Health Dis. 7:30.
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Last modified: January 4, 2011