What is krill fish oil

While some research suggests that the body might better absorb krill oil, other studies find no difference between fish and krill oil. More research is therefore needed. The above research only looks effects of the oil on blood levels, which is just one marker of their potential benefits.

No study has compared these products to see if one works better than the other for the specific uses that people are interested in, such as bodybuilding or promoting heart health. Taking omega-3 supplements in the forms of krill oil and fish oil does not appear to carry any significant side effects. Also, omega-3 supplements, such as krill oil and fish oil, have the potential to interact negatively with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin Coumadin.

This is because omega-3 fatty acids have mild anticoagulant or blood-thinning effects. However, a person must usually take between 3 and 6 g of fish oil a day for these adverse interactions to occur.

According to the ODS, daily intakes for omega-3 fatty acids are about 1. A person should read supplement labels carefully to determine how much of each substance is in each capsule. According to the ODS , an estimated 7. The evidence is still inconclusive about whether krill oil works as well as or better than fish oil.

So far, most of the research on the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids has been carried out using fish oil. Not a lot of research is currently available on krill oil. Taking omega-3 supplements can offer benefits in terms of lowering triglyceride levels and reducing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

These results suggest that participants absorbed the krill oil better than the fish oil 3. Another study gave participants either fish oil or about two thirds the same amount of krill oil. Both treatments increased blood levels of EPA and DHA by the same amount, even though the dose of krill oil was lower 4. However, several experts have reviewed the literature and concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to prove that krill oil is absorbed or used any better than fish oil 5 , 6.

Some studies suggest that krill oil may be absorbed better than fish oil. However, further research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be made.

Antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress, a type of cell damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Many people claim that the astaxanthin in krill oil protects it from oxidation and keeps it from going rancid on the shelf. However, no definitive research has confirmed this claim. Nevertheless, this study provided astaxanthin in much larger doses than those you would typically get from krill oil supplements. It is unclear if smaller amounts would provide the same benefits.

Krill oil contains a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, which may protect it from oxidation and provide some heart health benefits. Fish oil is best known for its beneficial effects on heart health, but several studies have demonstrated that krill oil can also improve heart health, possibly to a greater extent. One study had participants with high blood cholesterol take either fish oil, krill oil or a placebo daily for three months.

Doses varied based on body weight 9. Perhaps even more interestingly, the study found that krill oil was more effective than fish oil, even though it was given at lower doses. What are the potential side effects and risks? How does the production of these oils impact the environment? How to use these oils. The bottom line. Read this next.

What to Know About Familial Hypertriglyceridemia. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. How Triglycerides Affect Your Health. Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD. How to Lower Your Triglyceride Levels. Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD. Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Krill oil is derived from krill, small crustaceans found in the ocean.

They have a similar appearance to shrimp and are a dietary staple for whales, seals, and other sea life. Because krill oil supplements are derived from a different source than fish oil supplements, the fat content is different. In fact, two studies have found similar improvements in plasma EPA and DHA levels after supplementation with either krill oil or fish oil.

Krill oil also contains the antioxidant astaxanthin and vitamins D and E. Astaxanthin has been suggested to help improve HDL cholesterol levels, but further research is needed. Krill oil also provides choline, which may help to reduce homocysteine levels. In addition, krill oil reportedly has less of a fishy taste.

A disadvantage of krill oil is that it tends to be more expensive than fish oil. Research Very few clinical trials have evaluated outcomes of krill oil supplementation, and even fewer have directly compared krill oil and fish oil. A study evaluating various doses of krill oil ranging from 0.

The study had some limitations that occurred with variability in triglyceride measurements. To increase the statistical power, researchers pooled all krill oil supplemented patients and demonstrated reduced triglyceride levels. In another study, both krill oil and fish consumption containing similar amounts of EPA improved serum triglycerides, but krill oil performed no better than simply eating fish.