For the liver, fish oil is different from krill oil
Fish oil and krill oil: different actions on the liver
The Omega 3 in fish oil and krill oil regulate liver genes differently. These are the results of research conducted on mice reported by the journal Frontiers in Genetics. However, the data collected did not manage to demonstrate that krill oil has the same effects as fish oil on blood fat concentrations.
Sources of Omega-3
The benefits of Omega-3 for our body are well known:
- protection of the cardiovascular system;
- anti-inflammatory action;
- regulation of blood glucose and fat levels.
However, the human body cannot produce them by itself. For this reason, it is necessary to introduce these nutrients through diet. The main sources of Omega-3 are fatty fish:
- salmon
- mackerel
- tuna
By increasing consumption of these foods, it is possible to ensure the body has adequate levels of the two Omega-3s necessary for cells: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Other possible sources are plant-based items, such as walnuts and flax seeds, which contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a precursor of EPA and DHA. There are also dietary supplements that help meet the need for these precious nutrients. The most well-known contain fish oil, but there are also supplements whose main ingredient is krill oil, obtained from small shrimp that contain high amounts of EPA and DHA.
Fish oil and krill oil: the differences
Most studies on the efficacy of these supplements focus on fish oil, but an increasing number of researches are evaluating the benefits associated with krill oil intake. The analysis published in Frontiers in Genetics focused on the effect of fish oil or krill oil intake on gene expression in the liver. The study authors fed mice with food containing one or the other supplement.
It was discovered that the Omega-3s in krill oil reduce the activity of genes involved in the production of glucose, fats, and cholesterol by the liver. The data also suggest that this supplement increases the activity of mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of cells. Fish oil, on the other hand, regulates the expression of these genes differently.
The most significant difference concerns the factors involved in cholesterol synthesis, which in this case are induced by the supplement intake. Despite these differences, neither fish oil nor krill oil modified the levels of fats, glucose, or insulin in the blood of the mice involved in the experiment.
Significant differences?
According to the researchers, the lack of effect on blood fat and sugar concentrations could be due to the fact that the mice used in the experiments were young and fed a low-fat diet. Therefore, the research does not clarify whether krill oil has the same effects already demonstrated for fish oil. Further studies, conducted on animals with metabolic disorders or fed a high-fat diet, will be necessary to shed light on this aspect.
