Krill Oil: is It Better Than Fish Oil?
The omega-3’s found in fish oil supplements have been shown to have a variety of health benefits. Now, a new study shows that krill oil may be an even better alternative. Discover why.
More Americans are supplementing their diets with fish oils these days due to their apparent health benefits. Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils help to lower triglyceride levels and may even lower the risk of heart disease. Omega-3’s are being studied for their role in preventing a variety of other diseases including cancer, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Now, a new study suggests that the omega-3’s found in krill may be more effective than fish oils in terms of preventing the metabolic abnormalities and accumulation of fat around the heart and liver commonly seen in people who are obese. Is krill oil better than traditional omega-3 supplements?
What is Krill Oil?
Krill is a marine animal that closely resembles a shrimp in appearance found in the cold oceans of the world. This marine animal is being increasingly harvested for its oils which closely resemble the omega-3’s found in fatty fish, but with a few important differences. The slightly different structure of the omega-3’s in krill oil make them more easily absorbed by the body and more available to cells. Krill oil also has powerful anti-oxidant benefits not found in omega-3’s from fish oil sources.
Krill Oil for Health: A Study
This current study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, showed that krill oil was more effective than omega-3’s from fish oil at reducing fat accumulation around the heart and liver in rats. These visceral fat deposits are frequently seen in people who are obese and are thought to increase the risk of diabetes as well as overall mortality. Krill oil exerts its positive effects by acting on an area of the brain known as the endocannabinoid system which helps to control appetite and mood. Although traditional fish derived omega-3’s appear to have some effect on this area of the brain, the results weren’t as pronounced as with krill oil.
Is Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil?
Although it may be premature to say that krill oil is better than fish derived omega-3’s, it does have some interesting properties. A study published in 2003 showed Neptune krill oil to be superior to traditional omega-3’s for reducing menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome. Another study showed it was more effective than fish oils for lowering LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels.
Krill Oil for Health: The Bottom Line?
Although krill oil appears to offer some benefits over fish oil in terms of cholesterol lowering and metabolic complications associated with obesity, more research is needed to confirm this. Far fewer studies have been done on krill oil compared to fish oils which may account for the greater popularity of fish oils in the marketplace. Until more is knownl, it may be best to stick to fish oils.
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rajeev bhargava | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
a wonderful and informative article. krill is also the sole diet of whales, especially blue whale. i really enjoyed reading this article.
william willoya | Jul 21, 2009 | Reply
HI-I’m really lucky to have a half lifttime of eating krill and oceanic mammal’s around bering strait’s i.e. king is. alaska. THE benefit’s of krill to all mammal’s includeing man are many-heart and blood vessel’s outlast rest of body-liver and other function’s are clean pure and able,. The whole of arctic life is ok because of krill-when you are on the ocean you can actually harvest it with sometype of canvas like apparatus-and save your life-if you need the wonderful nutrition-(example is eskimo hunter’s are known to have survived by drinking the krill.;) The health benefit’s to all mammal’s are so many that all structure is twice or more stronger-example is bones and skin in eskimo’s are up to 8 time’s denser.