Krill Oil
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Krill oil is a mixture of fatty acids high in EPA and DHA (fish oil fatty acids) in the form of phospholipids, mostly as phosphatidylcholine; it appears to be better absorbed than fish oil, may be more cardioprotective, and has some unique (unexplored) fat burning effects.
Krill Oil is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Krill Oil is an oil that is derived from krill; it contains the same two fatty acids that Fish Oil contains (Eicosapentaenoic Acid, or EPA, and Docosahexaenoic Acid, DHA). However, a large portion of the EPA and DHA in krill is in the form of a phospholipid, with a phosphate group on the end of the fatty acid. This results in higher bioavailability (rate of absorption) of krill oil, and thus the same effects of Fish Oil can be seen with Krill Oil but at a lower dose.
Note that Krill Oil is also known as:
- Euphausiacea superba
Krill Oil should not be confused with:
Supplementation of Krill oil tends to be in the range of 1-3g daily (overall oil weight), which has been used in the clinical trials of krill oil supplementation.
If supplementing in accordance with the omega-3 content, the omega-3 content that is supplemented from krill oil should be equal to approximately 2/3rds that used with basic fish oil supplementation to account for the increased absorption. If one were to normally supplement 1000mg EPA plus DHA, then 660mg of EPA and DHA from krill oil would be equivalent.
Research FeedRead all studies
1.^Tou JC, Jaczynski J, Chen YCKrill for human consumption: nutritional value and potential health benefitsNutr Rev.(2007 Feb)
2.^Maki KC, Reeves MS, Farmer M, Griinari M, Berge K, Vik H, Hubacher R, Rains TMKrill oil supplementation increases plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in overweight and obese men and womenNutr Res.(2009 Sep)
7.^Schuchardt JP, Schneider I, Meyer H, Neubronner J, von Schacky C, Hahn AIncorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations--a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oilLipids Health Dis.(2011 Aug 22)
8.^Ulven SM, Kirkhus B, Lamglait A, Basu S, Elind E, Haider T, Berge K, Vik H, Pedersen JIMetabolic effects of krill oil are essentially similar to those of fish oil but at lower dose of EPA and DHA, in healthy volunteersLipids.(2011 Jan)
10.^Winther B, Hoem N, Berge K, Reubsaet LElucidation of phosphatidylcholine composition in krill oil extracted from Euphausia superbaLipids.(2011 Jan)
11.^Le Grandois J, Marchioni E, Zhao M, Giuffrida F, Ennahar S, Bindler FInvestigation of natural phosphatidylcholine sources: separation and identification by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS2) of molecular speciesJ Agric Food Chem.(2009 Jul 22)
12.^Zhou L, Zhao M, Ennahar S, Bindler F, Marchioni EDetermination of phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species in various food matrices by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS2)Anal Bioanal Chem.(2012 Apr)
13.^Zhou L, Zhao M, Ennahar S, Bindler F, Marchioni ELiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of sphingomyelin species from calf brain, ox liver, egg yolk, and krill oilJ Agric Food Chem.(2012 Jan 11)
14.^Bunea R, El Farrah K, Deutsch LEvaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemiaAltern Med Rev.(2004 Dec)
15.^Moretti VM, Mentasti T, Bellagamba F, Luzzana U, Caprino F, Turchini GM, Giani I, Valfrè FDetermination of astaxanthin stereoisomers and colour attributes in flesh of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a tool to distinguish the dietary pigmentation sourceFood Addit Contam.(2006 Nov)
17.^BATHAM E, FISHER LR, HENRY KM, KON SK, THOMPSON SYPerformed vitamin A in marine CrustaceaBiochem J.(1951 Jan)
20.^Fluoride in tissues of Krill Euphausia superba Dana and Meganyctiphanes norvegica M. Sars in relation to the moult cycle
21.^Possibilities Of Processing And Marketing Of Products Made From Antarctic Krill Fao Fisheries Technical Paper 268 (1985)
22.^Tenuta-Filho A, Alvarenga RCReduction of the bioavailability of fluoride from Antarctic krill by calciumInt J Food Sci Nutr.(1999 Jul)
23.^Oxidative stability of carotenoid pigments and polyunsaturated fatty acids in microparticulate diets containing krill oil for nutrition of marine fish larvae
24.^Hiratsuka S, Ishihara K, Kitagawa T, Wada S, Yokogoshi HEffect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid connecting phospholipids on the lipid peroxidation of the brain in miceJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).(2008 Dec)
25.^Sipe JC, Scott TM, Murray S, Harismendy O, Simon GM, Cravatt BF, Waalen JBiomarkers of endocannabinoid system activation in severe obesityPLoS One.(2010 Jan 20)
26.^Di Marzo V, Côté M, Matias I, Lemieux I, Arsenault BJ, Cartier A, Piscitelli F, Petrosino S, Alméras N, Després JPChanges in plasma endocannabinoid levels in viscerally obese men following a 1 year lifestyle modification programme and waist circumference reduction: associations with changes in metabolic risk factorsDiabetologia.(2009 Feb)
27.^Annuzzi G, Piscitelli F, Di Marino L, Patti L, Giacco R, Costabile G, Bozzetto L, Riccardi G, Verde R, Petrosino S, Rivellese AA, Di Marzo VDifferential alterations of the concentrations of endocannabinoids and related lipids in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese diabetic patientsLipids Health Dis.(2010 Apr 28)
28.^Piscitelli F, Carta G, Bisogno T, Murru E, Cordeddu L, Berge K, Tandy S, Cohn JS, Griinari M, Banni S, Di Marzo VEffect of dietary krill oil supplementation on the endocannabinoidome of metabolically relevant tissues from high-fat-fed miceNutr Metab (Lond).(2011 Jul 13)
29.^Banni S, Carta G, Murru E, Cordeddu L, Giordano E, Sirigu AR, Berge K, Vik H, Maki KC, Di Marzo V, Griinari MKrill oil significantly decreases 2-arachidonoylglycerol plasma levels in obese subjectsNutr Metab (Lond).(2011 Jan 30)
30.^Banni S, Di Marzo VEffect of dietary fat on endocannabinoids and related mediators: consequences on energy homeostasis, inflammation and moodMol Nutr Food Res.(2010 Jan)
31.^Wibrand K, Berge K, Messaoudi M, Duffaud A, Panja D, Bramham CR, Burri LEnhanced cognitive function and antidepressant-like effects after krill oil supplementation in ratsLipids Health Dis.(2013 Jan 25)
32.^Nishioka Y, Oyagi A, Tsuruma K, Shimazawa M, Ishibashi T, Hara HThe antianxiety-like effect of astaxanthin extracted from Paracoccus carotinifaciensBiofactors.(2011 Jan-Feb)
33.^Zhang X, Pan L, Wei X, Gao H, Liu JImpact of astaxanthin-enriched algal powder of Haematococcus pluvialis on memory improvement in BALB/c miceEnviron Geochem Health.(2007 Dec)
35.^Priddy AR, Killick SREicosanoids and ovulationProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.(1993 Nov)
36.^Sampalis F, Bunea R, Pelland MF, Kowalski O, Duguet N, Dupuis SEvaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrheaAltern Med Rev.(2003 May)
37.^Fosshaug LE, Berge RK, Beitnes JO, Berge K, Vik H, Aukrust P, Gullestad L, Vinge LE, Øie EKrill oil attenuates left ventricular dilatation after myocardial infarction in ratsLipids Health Dis.(2011 Dec 29)
38.^Bloomer RJ, Kabir MM, Canale RE, Trepanowski JF, Marshall KE, Farney TM, Hammond KGEffect of a 21 day Daniel Fast on metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk factors in men and womenLipids Health Dis.(2010 Sep 3)
39.^Bloomer RJ, Kabir MM, Trepanowski JF, Canale RE, Farney TMA 21 day Daniel Fast improves selected biomarkers of antioxidant status and oxidative stress in men and womenNutr Metab (Lond).(2011 Mar 18)
40.^Trepanowski JF, Kabir MM, Alleman RJ Jr, Bloomer RJA 21-day Daniel fast with or without krill oil supplementation improves anthropometric parameters and the cardiometabolic profile in men and womenNutr Metab (Lond).(2012 Sep 13)
41.^Ierna M, Kerr A, Scales H, Berge K, Griinari MSupplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritisBMC Musculoskelet Disord.(2010 Jun 29)
42.^Deutsch LEvaluation of the effect of Neptune Krill Oil on chronic inflammation and arthritic symptomsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2007 Feb)
43.^Ferramosca A, Conte A, Burri L, Berge K, De Nuccio F, Giudetti AM, Zara VA krill oil supplemented diet suppresses hepatic steatosis in high-fat fed ratsPLoS One.(2012)
44.^Tandy S, Chung RW, Wat E, Kamili A, Berge K, Griinari M, Cohn JSDietary krill oil supplementation reduces hepatic steatosis, glycemia, and hypercholesterolemia in high-fat-fed miceJ Agric Food Chem.(2009 Oct 14)
45.^Li DM, Zhou DY, Zhu BW, Chi YL, Sun LM, Dong XP, Qin L, Qiao WZ, Murata YEffects of krill oil intake on plasma cholesterol and glucose levels in rats fed a high-cholesterol dietJ Sci Food Agric.(2013 Jan 26)
46.^Burri L, Berge K, Wibrand K, Berge RK, Barger JLDifferential effects of krill oil and fish oil on the hepatic transcriptome in miceFront Genet.(2011)
47.^Vigerust NF, Bjørndal B, Bohov P, Brattelid T, Svardal A, Berge RKKrill oil versus fish oil in modulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism in mice transgenic for TNF-Eur J Nutr.(2012 Aug 25)
48.^Ferramosca A, Conte L, Zara VA krill oil supplemented diet reduces the activities of the mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier and of the cytosolic lipogenic enzymes in ratsJ Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl).(2012 Apr)
49.^Grimstad T, Bjørndal B, Cacabelos D, Aasprong OG, Janssen EA, Omdal R, Svardal A, Hausken T, Bohov P, Portero-Otin M, Pamplona R, Berge RKDietary supplementation of krill oil attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental ulcerative colitis in ratsScand J Gastroenterol.(2012 Jan)