Krill oil can reduce blood triglycerides

High triglycerides? Krill oil lowers them

Krill oil supplements, extracted from tiny Antarctic crustaceans, can lower blood triglyceride concentrations by about 10% in subjects with high triglyceride levels.

This is revealed by a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, conducted by researchers from Aker Biomarine in Oslo (Norway) and Intertek Cantox in Ontario (Canada).

The properties of Krill

Krill is part of the zooplankton and consists of a group of tiny invertebrates, mainly belonging to the order Euphausiacea superba. The oil extracted from Krill is a unique source of Omega 3, because the EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) contained are in phospholipid form, which is the most bioavailable and easily used by the body. Phospholipids are the main components of all cell membranes. As demonstrated by several studies, Omega-3s can reduce blood triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are the storage form of fats in the body and are used as an energy source. They mostly derive from food and are produced in small amounts by the body. The normal triglyceride value, i.e. the amount of triglycerides in the blood, ranges between 40 and 150 mg/dl.  Values above this limit indicate hypertriglyceridemia, which is an important risk factor for heart diseases.

Krill lowers triglycerides and increases Omega-3 index

To observe the action of the Omega-3s contained in Krill, researchers involved 300 individuals, both men and women, with elevated or borderline blood triglyceride levels, between 150 mg/dl and 499 mg/dl. Volunteers were randomly divided into 5 groups. Each group received daily supplements with different amounts of Krill oil: 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 grams. One group received an olive oil placebo. After 6 and 12 months of treatment, blood triglyceride levels were checked for each participant. Results showed that in those who took the supplement, compared to the placebo group, there was a 10% reduction in serum triglyceride levels after 12 months of treatment. LDL cholesterol concentration did not seem to change, unlike what was shown in other studies with fish oil supplements. However, based on the results, researchers concluded that in reality, less than 400 micrograms per day of EPA and DHA are sufficient to reduce serum triglyceride levels by 10%. Furthermore, results showed that following the highest dose of Krill oil administration, the Omega-3 index, i.e. the percentage of Omega-3 in total fatty acids, increased by 70%. Even with the lowest dose of 0.5 grams, the increase in the index was significant.

Krill oil reduces cardiovascular risk

By reducing triglycerides and increasing the Omega-3 Index, krill oil supplements can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and sudden cardiac death. However, considering individual variations in triglyceride concentrations, further studies with larger sample sizes per treatment group will be necessary to confirm these findings. 

Source: Kjetil Berge,  Kathy Musa-Veloso, Melody Harwood, Nils Hoem, Lena Burri. “Krill oil supplementation lowers serum triglycerides without increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with borderline high or high triglyceride levels”. Nutrition Research, February 2014 Volume 34, Issue 2, pp 126-133.