Stop Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms with Krill Oil
Ulcerative Colitis: How to Fight It Thanks to Krill Oil
Krill oil is a supplement rich in Omega-3, which supports a proper diet for ulcerative colitis: combined with nutrition, it could help counteract the symptoms of this colon inflammation. A group of researchers led by Kjetil Berge from Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen (Norway) suggests this potential application of fatty acids. The study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. The research was conducted on a group of rats, showing that in these animals just 5% of the diet consisting of krill oil is enough to protect the colon from shortening caused by this disease. Other studies will clarify further points:
- Does krill oil exert the same protective effect on the human intestine?
- Are the same properties shared by another important source of Omega-3, fish oil?
Krill Oil and Fish Oil: Differences
Omega-3 molecules are especially abundant in fatty fish such as:
- mackerel
- sardines
- tuna
- salmon
There are other food sources rich in these fatty acids. One of these is krill, a group of small crustaceans belonging to various species living in saltwater. Both fish oil and krill oil contain high concentrations of Omega-3. Scientific research has mainly focused on the health benefits derived from fish oil consumption. Data regarding krill oil are more limited. What is known for sure is that these two supplements are not entirely equivalent. Krill oil has a different chemical structure compared to fish oil:
- in krill oil, most Omega-3s are bound to phospholipids;
- in fish oil, these fatty acids are present as triglycerides.
Tore Grimstad, the lead author of the study, states that the presence of phospholipids could favor the absorption of Omega-3. Additionally, krill oil contains several molecules with antioxidant action. For these reasons, the researchers wanted to test the effectiveness of krill oil in counteracting the symptoms of colitis.
Omega-3 Protect the Colon
The study involved a total of 30 rats. A treatment with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), based on an experimental model, induced colitis.
- 10 of these animals were fed a standard diet for 4 weeks.
- 10 rats, fed the same way, were treated to develop colitis.
- 10 received feed supplemented with 5% krill oil and were also treated to induce the disorder.
Compared to the other DSS-treated rats, these animals did not show the colon shortening typical of the disease.
Krill Oil for Colitis: Promising First Results, More Confirmation Needed
Beyond this positive effect, analyses conducted on the rats revealed that krill oil can reduce certain markers of protein oxidation. However, the limited number of animals involved in the experiment does not allow to state with certainty that this change is significant. For this reason, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these results and extend them also to humans.
Source
1. Grimstad T, Bjørndal B, Cacabelos D, Aasprong OG, Janssen EA, Omdal R, Svardal A, Hausken T, Bohov P, Portero-Otin M, Pamplona R, Berge RK, “Dietary supplementation of krill oil attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental ulcerative colitis in rats”, Scand J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jan;47(1):49-58. Epub 2011 Nov 30.
