Krill oil showed promissing results in a Norwegian animal study for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. An estimated one to two million Americans suffer from ulcerative colitis, which is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The study was done with Aker Biomarine krill oil on 30 rats. The krill oil researchers at the University of Bergen and at the Stavanger University Hospital observed significant improvement in colon health, reduced oxidative stress and balanced inflammation in animals which were treated with krill oil. Their study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology.
Ultra high krill oil dose
In the study with 30 male Wistar rats one third was the healthy control group, one third got induced colitis and the remaining third got induced colitis, and was treated with krill oil. It must be noted that the krill oil dosing was significant at 5% of the animal feed. This translates to 110 grams of krill oil, or 110 times the recommended daily dose of 1,000 mg, for the average human. It must be noted that Aker's krill oil contains very low levels astaxanthin, but that the astaxanthin amounts add up to clinical levels in 110 grams Aker krill oil. Astaxanthin is known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties. The same can be said about the total quantity of omega 3 DHA in 110 grams krill oil. DHA is a precursor for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E3 (PGE3).
The trial took four weeks and the colitis was induced in the final week. Weight and disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histological combined score (HCS), markers of protein oxidative damage, colon levels of selected cytokines and prostaglandins, fatty acid profile, and expression of selected genes were measured.
In the animals treated with krill oil, HCS and inflammatory cytokines were lowered, while the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E3 (PGE3) and PPAR-γ coactivator 1α were increased by krill. Levels of protein oxidation markers were also decreased by krill oil.
"This study demonstrates the potential anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of Superba krill oil for ulcerative colitis disease. Chronic inflammation is involved in other health concerns, including cardiovascular risk, joint discomfort, cancer, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, allergy, and diabetes," said Kjetil Berge, R&D Director of Aker BioMarine Antarctic. "The results from this study open up new possibilities for krill oil for digestive health, and may provide a basis for future studies in humans."
Read more about krill oil and inflammation.
Read more about omega 6 inflammation.
Read more about high potency astaxanthin krill oil.
Krill oil showed promissing results in a Norwegian animal study for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. An estimated one to two million Americans suffer from ulcerative colitis, which is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The study was done with Aker Biomarine krill oil on 30 rats. The krill oil researchers at the University of Bergen and at the Stavanger University Hospital observed significant improvement in colon health, reduced oxidative stress and balanced inflammation in animals which were treated with krill oil. Their study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology.
The trial took four weeks and the colitis was induced in the final week. Weight and disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histological combined score (HCS), markers of protein oxidative damage, colon levels of selected cytokines and prostaglandins, fatty acid profile, and expression of selected genes were measured.
