Krill Oil: Reduction by Half of Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Daily intake of krill oil, a supplement rich in Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3, can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. This news is reported by BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, which published the results of research from a collaboration between researchers at MD Biosciences (Zurich, Switzerland), Aker BioMarine (Oslo, Norway), and Clanet (Espoo, Finland). According to the authors, the benefits of krill oil depend on the presence of both Omega-3s and other antioxidant molecules.

Krill Oil, a Valuable Aid

Krill consists of small crustaceans known for their high Omega-3 content and other important nutrients. Their habitat is deep marine waters, where about 85 species of these tiny creatures live, together forming the most abundant animal biomass on the planet. Once harvested, krill can be processed into an oil containing antioxidant concentrations 48 times higher than traditional fish oil. Moreover, compared to fish oil, krill oil also contains a greater amount of phospholipids rich in Omega-3 and astaxanthin, an antioxidant that may contribute to reducing inflammatory phenomena. Krill Oil and Arthritis, a Demonstrated Effectiveness The authors studied the potential of krill oil in treating arthritis in mice predisposed to develop the disease. The animals were divided into three groups. While the first group received no supplement, the second group was fed a diet enriched with an amount of krill oil providing 0.44 grams of Omega-3 – eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – per 100 grams of food. The remaining mice received EPA and DHA in the form of fish oil, for a total of 0.47 grams of Omega-3 per 100 grams of food. Arthritis was evaluated in each group by analyzing joint tissues. Additionally, at the end of the study, serum samples were collected to determine the levels of molecules involved in inflammation processes – various interleukins and the so-called Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) – which are associated with the disease. The data collected showed that, although no decrease in inflammation markers was observed, both krill oil intake and fish oil supplementation significantly reduced arthritis symptoms and swelling of the hind paws. However, the researchers explain that the effects obtained with krill oil were greater. While fish oil reduced the severity of the disease by 26%, krill oil allowed symptom reduction by 47%. According to the researchers, the greater effect with krill oil may be due to higher bioefficacy of EPA and DHA contained therein compared to those in fish oil.

Hope for Various Diseases

Although this study focused on rheumatoid arthritis, the authors believe the same effectiveness could be observed against osteoarthritis and other inflammatory diseases. 

Source

1. Ierna M, Kerr A, Scales H, Berge K, Griinari M, “Supplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis”, BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Jun 29;11:136