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Krill Oil Benefits

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Krill oil benefits many health conditions

 

There are more than 10 researched krill oil health benefits, which you can explore in the list below. WellWise has studied the krill oil research, and we discuss detailed reviews of the clinical studies on dedicated krill oil benefit pages. Links to these krill oil research pages are presented below.

The benefits of krill oil supplement

The observed krill oil health benefits are thought to be a result of several factors:

  1. omega-3s (DHA & EPA)
  2. phospholipids, which put the EPA and DHA omegas in a high-absorption form, and
  3. the powerful and unique antioxidant astaxanthin.

Phospholipids are key building blocks for each cell membrane, and are critical to our health because the membrane determines what goes into the cell (nutrients as well as toxins), and what comes out. The main beneficial function of omega 3s (EPA/DHA) is that they dramatically change the quality of our cell membranes. In order to gain the benefit of the omega-3s, they must be converted to a phospholipid form. The benefit of krill oil versus fish oil is that 40 percent of the krill oil is bonded omega-3 phospholipid, which unlike fish oil omega-3s don’t need any conversion. Scientists continue to research krill oil because they believe the krill oil phospholipids hold the key to solving many serious health problems.

The main health conditions on which specific krill oil research has been focused cover four areas:

  • heart and cardio health (especially lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol)
  • joint health, including krill oil arthritis benefits and reduced pain killer use
  • women's health (PMS, for premenstrual syndrome and mood) 
  • brain health (specifically ADHD, ADD, Alzheimer’s and dementia).

Top 10 krill oil benefits:

 

1.   cardio krill oil benefits:

Krill oil’s heart and cardio benefits include:

  • Improve HDL (good cholesterol) by up to 59 percent. 
  • Lower LDL (bad cholesterol) by up to 39 percent.
  • Lower triglycerides by up to 26 percent.
  • One study predicts that krill oil extends life expectancy by many years.

Krill Oil Cholesterol Levels are Improved

Read more about cardio krill oil benefits here. 

2.  krill oil arthritis benefits:

 

  • Patients taking krill oil report up to 30 percent reduction in joint pain
  • Arthritis patients on krill oil reported using 31.6 percent fewer pain killers (NSAIDS)

 Read more about krill oil arthritis benefits here.

3.  krill oil and Alzheimer’s:

 
  • No one really wants to get old, and the omega-3s, phospholipids and antioxidants in krill oil can slow or prevent aging, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
  • One important research study showed in 2006 that the top 25 percent of seniors with the highest phospholipid DHA levels in their blood had a 47 percent lower risk of developing all-cause dementia. The scientists, who used data from the Framingham Heart Study, called this study result “significant.”

More information about krill oil and Alzheimer’s, dementia and aging can be found here. 

4. krill oil brain benefits:

 

  • Brain health, including focus, memory, alertness and acuity are mostly driven by DHA omega 3 levels and anti-inflammatory antioxidants. DHA is an electrically charged fat molecule that is vitally important for our nervous systems. Our brain and nerve cells will not work well without DHA phospholipids. Neptune, one of the krill oil suppliers, is developing a krill oil brain drug using krill oil DHA and EPA.

Read more about krill oil brain benefits on WellWise’s specialized page on krill oil and brain health. 

5. krill oil ADHD benefits:

 

  • Krill oil improved ability of ADHD children and adults to concentrate by 56 percent.
  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is closely linked to DHA phospholipid levels in the brain. Most of the fat in the brain is exactly that: DHA phospholipid, and exactly as it is in krill oil.

 Read more about krill oil ADHD here. You may also want to read the krill oil ADHD blog pages.

6.   krill oil and depression:

Research shows that DHA phospholipids in the cell membrane are key to having sufficient serotonin receptors. Low blood serotonin levels are associated with depression. Whereas popular SSRI drugs such as Prozac and Zoloft increase the serotonin in the blood stream by blocking the break down by the liver, it is phospholipid DHA that can impact the serotonin uptake on a receptor level.

 

Read more about krill oil depression here. 

7.   krill oil diabetes benefits:

 

Krill oil is very effective at reducing elevated lipid and glucose levels, which is significant for managing diabetes. This is also associated with krill oil weight loss benefits. The high astaxanthin antioxidant levels in some krill oil brands are thought to be beneficial for controlling inflammation, including inflammation of the cardiovascular system, the brain and joints – all problems that diabetics have to manage. Recent research shows that obesity is related to a higher Alzheimer risk.

Read more about krill oil and diabetes here. 

8.   krill oil and PMS: 

 

  • One of the first clinical research studies using krill oil focused on PMS symptoms (Premenstrual Syndrome) and DM (Dysmenorrhoea).
  • The study showed significant improvement in cramping and other PMS-related complaints.
  • The study also showed that taking krill oil reduced the need for pain killers by up to 50 percent.
  • Krill oil research suggests that it may be more effective than fish oil for PMS.

    Go to our special PMS and krill oil for women page here. 

9.  krill oil skin benefits:

Skin health is to a large extent driven by the phospholipids and the fatty acids in the cell membranes. Dry skin is usually dead skin cells. It occurs when the cell membrane has lost its integrity. Though much research remains to be done on krill oil’s benefits for skin, there is much anecdotal evidence for the skin benefits of krill oil because the skin is so visible.

Read more about krill oil and skin health here. 

10. krill oil eye health:

The eye, like the brain, contains mostly omega 3 phospholipids due to the many nerve endings there. In addition, the antioxidant in krill oil, astaxanthin, is present in large quantities in the eye. Astaxanthin is our natural protection against ultraviolet light (UV). Eyes are very sensitive to UV damage because the sensitive light sensors are so exposed. Several astaxanthin studies have been done for eye health.

Many optometrists recommend krill oil for dry eyes due to krill oil’s unique combination of astaxanthin and phospholipid DHA. Astaxantin levels in krill oil range from 0.1 mg to 12.0 mg per daily dose. Thus it is important to carefully read the labels and study the WellWise krill oil reviews.

Read more about astaxanthin and eye health here.  

Read more about krill oil and eye health here.  

Krill oil's benefits depend on quality

Of course, as with all supplements, the benefits of krill oil or fish oil are dependent upon quality.

For instance, the amount of omega-3s stated on the krill oil label is sometimes not the actual amount the capsule contains. ConsumerLab.com recently released a review detailing some of these discrepancies. Several of the krill oil brands contained less of the omega-3s than the labels claimed. Of the 24 products tested, seven failed to pass due to such factors as spoilage. One product was found to have twice as much fish oil as krill oil, despite using the words "natural krill oil" in its name. Curiously, the major-selling brand of krill oil, Mega Red Krill Oil, was omitted entirely from the report. The ConsumerLab.com review is not available to the public. However, you can read more about krill oil brand review here.  

The future looks bright for krill oil

As we have stated, omega-3s (in particular DHA and EPA) are a major component both of krill oil and fish oil. Omega-3s are probably the most researched dietary-supplement ingredient in the world. Thousands of studies have been conducted, which have demonstrated an enormous number of health benefits conferred by omega-3s.

To date, much more of this research has been conducted using fish oil as the source for omega-3s than krill oil. However, krill oil suppliers and makers of krill oil supplements are very excited about the future, and are pouring money and resources into clinical research on krill oil benefits to verify the health effects that users have reported anecdotally.

WellWise will publish more of these results as they are made available.

More about krill oil

Find out what is krill here.

Read about what is in krill oil here.

We address issues of krill sustainability and harvesting elsewhere on this site.

Read about liquid krill oil here.

Read about krill oil and fish oil testing results by Consumerlab.com.

Read about Krill oil vs fish oil: What is the difference? 

Read about Buying krill oil in bulk, capsules from krill oil suppliers.

Find out how to choose and review brands of krill oil.

Review krill oil labels here.

Review krill oil brands here.

 

 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this krill oil forum is a public service of WellWise.org, and should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended to constitute personal medical advice. 

 

Comments:

 

#1 The environmental downside by using krill oil. 

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2011-02-06 16:05.

  Hi, I did not take time to read all the comments so maybe someone has mentioned this already. We humans always think of our self and seems to forget Mother Nature. I agree with Dr. Weil. See text in italic below. I copied the text from his homepage. "The downside of getting your omega-3s from krill oil is the declining populations of these tiny marine creatures. Krill live in sea ice and are consumed in great quantity by whales. But as climate change and human activity warms the frigid polar waters, sea ice is melting, posing a danger to krill – and to whales and other marine mammals that eat them. Of course, you can always get your omega-3s from eating fish. To avoid mercury and other contaminants, go for sardines, herring, Alaskan black cod, and Alaskan sockeye salmon. Sockeye are all wild and, being less carnivorous, are less likely to contain environmental contaminants than other types of salmon. Even canned sockeye, available in most supermarkets, is a good source of omega-3s. Andrew Weil, M.D." Happy Natural Life Kristin Jensen 

#2 Krill, whales and such 

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2011-02-07 14:09.

Thanks for your comment, Kristen. Actually, we've done a lot of research on this topic (krill oilsustainability), which you can read about elsewhere on the site. It appears that we are less in danger of running out of krill than we are of the other marine sources of omega-3s.The krillfishery is among the best and most carefully managed fisheries in the world, and other marine sources of omega-3s that Dr. Weil mentions, such as sardines and herring, are showing clear signs of declining populations. This year's catch of these species in Peruvian waters (the source for most of the fish oil supplements) is down nearly 50 percent. So far, the krill biomass in the Antarctic is fine. Only the tiniest fraction of the estimated biomass is being harvested by humans. Also important to note:Most of us don't think about whether a fish is farm raised or wild. Farm raised salmon gets its very color from being fed either synthetic astaxanthin or krill meal (which is naturally rich in this carotenoid), which is what the vast majority of the krill harvest is turned into: fish-farm food. Since omega-3s are so important for our health, we will begin to see a much more sustainable source of this nutrient becoming more prominent. Stay tuned, as we will be writing more about this soon.

#3 Buy krill oil? 

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-12-20 12:58.

I would like to try krill oil, but the prices are all over the place. My guess is that cheap krill oil is not as good as more expensive krill oil. And can you give some advice on where to buy krill oil, too?

#4 Buy krill oil? 

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2010-12-20 13:12.

Looks like you missed the links at the bottom of the above story. You can click here on krill oil reviews. We show you how to buy krill oil by reading the labels. And you're correct: cheap krill oil is something less than desirable. It usually doesn't contain the level of phospholipids that really define krill oil, make it so effective.

#5 krill oil for women? 

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-11-29 16:48.

I see that there's a comment above for krill oil for kids, but is there a special formulation of krilloil for women?   Cyndi

#6 krill oil for women

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2010-11-29 16:53.

I believe that Dr. Mercola is marketing such a formulation. However, recent research suggests that women's bodies are more efficient than men's at taking up the phospholipid-based omega-3s in krill oil, so it would seem that a special formulation is a little redundant ... probably more of a marketing ploy than something based in science. Hope that helps. James Townsend

#7 kril oil for women

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-11-05 09:29.

I read somewhere recently that women take up DHA and EPA omega 3 better than men. Is this true, and would this mean that krill oil is better for women than for men? Margaret

#8 What about krill oil for weight loss

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-11-02 11:22.

I could use some help.

#9 Couldn't we all?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-11-02 11:29.

Currently there are no published krill oil studies on weight loss, and if you've looked over WellWise.org you know we are big on science-based information about supplements. However, we can say with some assurance that krill oil benefits include reduction in joint pain, which is often a complaint of those who are overweight. Also, krill oil studies have shown benefits in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, which are usually a problem with overweight folks. Eating less, eating right and exercising frequently are the best things you can do for yourself. However, it can't hurt to take krill oil -- it may not help you lose weight, but it sure will help with a bunch of related things.

#10 Krill oil Studies or Krill Oil Reviews

Submitted by Martha on Thu, 2010-10-28 17:28.

I have read a lot about the health benefits of krill oil recently but there is so much information out there I get lost. Could anyone suggest a good red krill oil review or reliable source for a krilloil study. Also, are the differences between krill oil versus fish oil?

#11 krill oil reviews

Submitted by James Townsend on Fri, 2010-11-05 09:38.

You might have missed our krill oil review articles linked in the text above. We review the labels of krill oil brands, and what you should be looking for on them to know if you are getting genuine, pure krill oil. Basically, what defines Antarctic krill oil and its benefits is the phospholipid content. If it is listed as less than 400mg per dose, it is not really krill oil but probably fish oil. Schiff Mega Red Krill Oil, what I believe you are referring to here, doesn't list phospholipid content on the label. See What to look for on a krill oil label, and Krill oil vs fish oil above. Editor in Chief

#12 Krill Oil Side Effects

Submitted by Julie81 on Wed, 2010-10-27 15:23.

I just found out I am pregnant. I am wondering if krill oil for women who are pregnant is dangerous. I take pure red krill oil right now. I think my krill oil dosage is 100mg a day. Should I be concerned about taking pure antarctic krill oil during my pregnancy?

#13 Krill Oil for Dogs

Submitted by Kerry on Wed, 2010-10-27 15:13.

I have heard that like humans, dogs benefit tremendously in health from taking omega-3 supplements like krill oil. Omega-3 helps dogs grow a shinier fur and ameliorate itchy scratchy skin. Would antarctic krill oil be an option of krill oil for dogs? I want to start giving my dog krill oil but I am not sure if pure krill oil is dangerous for dogs to take.

#14 krill oil & blood pressure

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-10-25 10:36.

I don't see anything in here about what krill oil can do about high blood pressure. Is there anything NKO can do to help with this?

#15 Perhaps ...

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2010-10-25 10:46.

One krill oil study focused on reduction of cholesterol. Many researchers now believe that cholesterol is not really the cause of heart disease, but just an indicator of risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association high blood cholesterol doesn’t automatically lead to high blood pressure, but many of the same lifestyle habits that may increase blood cholesterol levels also may cause elevated blood pressure, such as a diet high in saturated fat. As we've said elsewhere on this site, the Western diet is way too high in saturated fats and omega-6s. Among the many krill oil benefits: they dramatically increase the omega-3s in our system, bringing them more into balance. Finally, NKO is a brand of krill oil (Neptune Krill Oil), but there are other brands from other krill oil suppliers. You can find more about the various brands and compare their contents here http://www.wellwise.org/krill-oil/krill-oil-reviews.

#16 krill oil & PMS?

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-10-25 09:53.

What are the krill oil benefits for women with PMS? I've had this problem for years and I would love to find a solution. Jesse

#17 krill oil for women

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-10-25 10:03.

Hi Jesse, I think you must've missed the section just above on PMS. This is one of the few completed krill oil studies showing some dramatic results. Take a look. Also, some more good news about krill oil for women: We just read a study done by one of the krill-oil suppliers -- Aker BioMarine -- that found that women appear to take up the omega-3s (and presumably other nutrients in krill oil) more efficiently than men.

#18 Krill oil or fish oil?

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-10-18 10:04.

I've heard that much of the fish oil on the market, especially the cheaper stuff, is rancid and contaminated with heavy metals. But is krill oil any better for you than fish oil? It all comes out of the same ocean.  

#19 Fish oil-krill oil dangers

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2010-10-18 10:22.

Yes, some researchers have found that up to 50 percent of fish oil on grocery store shelves is rancid. Fish oil or krill oil will go bad when exposed to air and sunlight or fluorescent lights. This is why they should always be in dark glass bottles, never clear glass, or blister packs. Fish oilneeds to be refrigerated after opening a bottle, but krill oil should be stored at room temperature. Also, with fish oil or krill oil, it is better to buy them in small bottles or blister packs ... less chance of a leaker spoiling the whole batch. Krill oil naturally contains astaxanthin -- sometimes manufacturers add more of it, as well -- because it is a highly effective antioxidant, which dramatically slows down oxidation in krill oil. Fish oil can't begin to compete with this. The smaller and shorter lived the fish, the less heavy metals it will have taken in. If you compare tuna with salmon and krill, you will find more heavy metals by far in the larger, older fish. Therefore, there are fewer krill oil dangers, as far as heavy metals, than in these other species.

#20 krill oil and weight loss

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-10-06 10:25.

Is there any scientific evidence that krill oil helps in weight loss? I am desperate. Weight loss has been my biggest challenge, and if it can help I sure would go out and buy krill oil. Kimberly

#21 krill oil weight loss

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-10-25 09:45.

Weight loss has not yet been found as one of the benefits of krill oil. However, I just read that they have discovered that people who were taking krill oil in a clinical study shifted fat from the belly region to other parts of their bodies. That can't be a bad thing because lots of belly fat is associated with heart probs, etc.

#22 krill oil and weight loss

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-10-06 10:25.

Is there any scientific evidence that krill oil helps in weight loss? I am desperate. Weight loss has been my biggest challenge, and if it can help I sure would go out and buy krill oil. Kimberly

#23 Cardio Krill Oil Cholesterol

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-10-06 05:18.

  I found this interesting krill oil review by Liz on the cardio krill oil forum about "what is krilloil?". The question was what's better for cardio health: krill oil or fish oil? She answered: There is a lot of fish oil research, and nobody will say anything bad about that. There are a few krill oilreviews that compare krill oil & fish oil. The biggest difference was observed in the cardio study about krill oil vs fish oil. The cholesterol benefits of krill oil vs fish oil when compared were: + Cardio LDL (bad cholesterol) FISH oil cholesterol: 5% better + Cardio LDL (bad cholesterol) KRILLoil cholesterol: 55% better Conclusion: krill oil is better than fish oil for cardio LDL cholesterol health. + Cardio HDL (good cholesterol) FISH oil cholesterol: 4% better + Cardio HDL (good cholesterol) KRILL oil cholesterol: 39% better Conclusion: krill oil is better than fish oil for cardio HDL cholesterol health.

#24 Thanks

Submitted by James Townsend on Tue, 2010-10-12 11:21.

You can find lots more on this site about krill oil cardio effects http://www.wellwise.org/krill-oil/cardio-health, as well as krill oil-fish oil reviews http://www.wellwise.org/krill-oil/krill-oil-vs-fish-oil-what-is-the-difference. Enjoy! and thanks for your contributions.

#25 Krill oil vs fish oil & arthritis

Submitted by Martha on Tue, 2010-09-28 10:46.

I have been taking fish oil pills for many years now but I have heard a lot about pure Antarctic krill oil supplements lately. I have arthritis. Is there any krill oil dangers associated with my arthritis? Is pure krill oil better than fish oil when it comes to side effects? ~ Martha

#26 krill oil & fish oil arthritis benefits

Submitted by Joe53 on Tue, 2010-09-28 12:57.

  Good for you that you have been taking fish oil for years, and that you're now considering Antarctic krill oil. I am not surprised that you are haring more about pure krill oil, because this supplement from the pure Antarctic waters is getting a lot of attention lately. The krill benefitsfor arthritis are reviewed in a clinical study. The conclusion was that people who used krill oil: + had 29% less pain + had 20% less stiffness + used 32 less pain killers + had 23% better function Now, these are hard numbers for the arthritis benefits of krill oil.

Joe53

#27 Krill oil vs fish oil & arthritis

Submitted by Martha on Wed, 2010-09-29 08:59.

Are there any krill oil dangers associated with my arthritis?

#28 krill oil & fish oil arthritis benefits

Submitted by Joe53 on Wed, 2010-09-29 11:07.

  No. You have to keep the general warnings on the krill oil supplement label in mind though. I would make the case that 32% less pain killer use for arthritis sufferers, is so much better than any krill oil danger. I mean that the side effects of using pain killers for arthritis is so much worse than any side effect of krill oil.

Joe53

#29 Krill oil vs fish oil & arthritis

Submitted by Martha on Wed, 2010-09-29 16:49.

And what about the side effects of krill oil when I compare with the side effects of fish oil? Can you tell me?

#30 krill oil & fish oil arthritis benefits

Submitted by Joe53 on Wed, 2010-09-29 17:11.

  The side effects that the krill oil suppliers warn for are coagulation dangers. So when you use Coumadin or aspirin, you have to be extra careful with the blood thinning danger. If you bruise too easily when using krill oil or fish oil, then consult your doctor. It is always smart to talk with your doctor when using krill oil or fish oil supplements when on medication. I don't think there's a difference between krill oil & fish oil because the blood thinning is caused by the omega-3s, and that's in both krill oil & fish oil.

Joe53

#31 Where can I buy krill oil for my dog?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-09-30 19:51.

  Max my Golden Retriever has severe arthritis and has a hard time walking, climbing stairs. Can krill oil for dogs help out, and where do I buy this? Is it expensive or cheap? Bill in South Fork WA

#32 cardio krill oil benefit

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-09-23 20:17.

  Has anyone cardio krill oil results from the doctor? Are your cholesterol levels better, and how much was your difference in HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and heart triglycerides? My cardio health is not good because of my cholesterol ratio. The good cholesterol is to low, and my bad cholesterol is to high. My cardiologist said she has heard about the cardio benefits of krilloil, but had not looked into it. She thinks it is the same as fish oil, but I read that phospholipids are better cardio wise for krill oil vs fish oil. Is anyone willing to share blood lipid results after using cardio krill oil or fish oil? Jenny

#33 arthritis compare fish oil versus krill oil

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-09-08 09:42.

Is anyone using krill oil for arthritis? Do you feel the difference, and is krill oil better than fishoil? Rose

#34 clinical study: krill much better than fish oil for arthritis

Submitted by Joe53 on Fri, 2010-09-17 11:55.

Rose, In an animal study arthritis was reduced by 47% with krill oil and by 26% for fish oil. The study was done by Aker, and was published today September 17, 2010, (you must be psychic to post your question a week before the study came out....). The results are very exciting and interesting. Especially in the light that one would expect that astaxanthin, the red antioxidant inkrill oil has known anti-inflammatory benefits, and that Aker's krill oil has very little to no astaxanthin, wherease the competing E. superba krill oil brands (Azantis and Neptune) do have significant quantities of astaxanthin. Hogne Vik says in the press release that "these results are in line with other krill oil data demonstrating that omega-3 fatty acids in the form of phospholipids can be more effective than omega-3 fatty acids from triglycerides". The "other krilldata" he's referring to is the neptune krill oil study, that was released several years ago. Aker's latest krill oil research in animals confirms the benefits of arthritis pain management that has been observed before.

Joe53

#35 Krill oil for pets

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-09-02 00:20.

My vet told me about giving krill oil to my pets. I have been giving my dog and cat 500 mg krilloil daily for the last 4 months.  My golden retriever’s hips and arthritis are remarkably better.  He is climbing mountains and chasing birds like he use to do when he was a puppy.  My cat's mood is much friendlier.  I believe it is the Krill.

#36 krill oil for pets

Submitted by Joe53 on Fri, 2010-09-17 12:31.

The recent Aker scientific krill oil study about arthritis was done with mice. Now, that doesn't automatically mean that it will also work as good for cats and dogs or humans, but it's a good indication. The Aker kril oil research showed 47% improvement in arthritis in mice when they were fed krill oil, and 26% improvement in arthritis pain when they got fish oil. I think pet foods are devoid of omega-3, because they are full of bygones, and must be preserved at high heat. Any EPA or DHA from fish meal or krill meal will most likely be degraded. I suspect that's even true for your "Ocean Dinner" cat food. There are only few that sell krill oil for pets. JD Premium and Mercola are the only two that I know. You can of course use human supplements for pets, but these have not been specifically designed or approved for pets. If your vet says it's o.k. then I think it's ok. Dogs love krill oil capsules. They go wild!!!! Cats are unique in that they are unable to make their own DHA and thus must get it from food.

Joe53

#37 Krill Oil for Kids

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-08-27 14:07.

Is krill oil safe or dangerous for kids? I have 2 and 7 year old kids. If not what dosages are safe for them? Julie

#38 TOP 10 FOODS THAT CHILDREN CHOKE ON

Submitted by Joe53 on Fri, 2010-09-03 17:16.

Julie, On a second note, I want to mention the choking risk of small round food items. Especially your two year old is at risk when not supervised. There’s not much you can do about it, except for watching them closely when they swallow. Common sense tells me that krill oil capsules fall in the same risk category as grapes. Nevertheless, if you want to eliminate the risk altogether you may want to consider fish oil in liquid form (yes the good old fashioned cod liver oil). Based on a study (*) done in 1984 it can be estimated that 66 to 77 children under age ten die each year because of choking on food. However, 90 percent of the choking deaths are with infants and kids five or younger.

Top 10 foods than children fatally choke on:

1.         Hot dogs / sausage      17 %

2.         Candy                          10 %

3.         Nuts                             9 %

4.         Grapes                         8 %

5.         Cookies                       7 %

6.         Meat                            7 %

7.         Carrots                         6 %

8.         Popcorn                       5 %

9.         Apple                           5 %

10.       Peanut Butter               5 %

As you can see, most of these food items have in common that they are oval (round and long) and that they are large enough to wedge into the airway. In the end: you are the mom, and you know best. *  Childhood Asphyxiation by Food.  A National Analysis and Overview. Harris et al. 1984. JAMA

Joe53

#39 Krill Oil for Children

Submitted by Joe53 on Thu, 2010-09-02 17:59.

Julie

I think krill oil for children is an excellent idea. For starters, the capsules are much smaller than the fish oil pills, and are much easier to swallow. It's important to find a krill oil brand that does not smell. As a young mother you know: Kids are picky!! According to a clinical study done by dr. M. Singh in 2005, DHA is the most important structural (phospholipid) fatty acid in the central nervous system and the eyes, and its availability is crucial for brain development. He says that there is a limited liver capability during early life to upgrade ALA (flaxseed oil) to more active long-chain fatty acids such as DHA and EPA. He then goes on and states that most of the brain growth is finished by five to six years of age. At birth the brain weights 70% of an adult brain, 15% brain growth occurs during infancy and remaining brain growth is completed during preschool years. I would comment to dr. Singh, that brain development and brain weight are not one and the same. I believe the brain continues to evolve until we die, and all brain cells are fully replaced every nine months. Most of the DHA brain phospholipids are recycled, but not all. That's why especially the brain and the eyes need a daily stream of fresh DHA phospholipids. Krill oil is the only supplement with DHA in ready-to-use phospholipid form. The failure of the fish oil omega-3 logic is that having large quantities of DHA in the bloodstream does somewhat magically mean that the liver will be able to upgrade these fish DHA triglycerides to DHA phospholipids. The comparison of fish oil versus krill oil is now obvious: large quantities of DHA (in fish oil triglyceride form) are pointless if the other phospholipid components (mainly choline) are missing. Joe53

#40 Whole Sales Krill Oil

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-08-27 11:55.

As a small natural foods store manager, I am really wanting to stock krill for our customers. I am looking for a wholesale place that I can order from. I don't have the financial bandwidth to order in large quantities. Does anyone have any suggestions where I corder from on a small scale? Thanks, Beth

#41 EPAQ KRILL OIL SALE

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-10-14 09:42.

I buy Epaq krill oil now for some time from my clinician. It's not cheap, and I looked on Amazon, and still the Epaq krill oil is not cheap. Can you tell me if it is nko krill oil or azantis krill oil or the same as mega red krill oil? That will help me buy an Epaq krill oil on sale. Bill in Atlanta

#42 Comment Removed-

Submitted by James Townsend on Mon, 2010-08-30 09:36.

 

#43 Krill oil dangers

Submitted by James Townsend on Fri, 2010-08-20 11:48.

Suppliers recommend consulting a physician before taking krill oil if you are a nursing or expectant mother, or if you have a history of allergic reactions to seafood. We have a section about related questions here (Is there any danger in taking krill oil?)

#44 blood thinning

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-08-04 18:29.

What in krill oil is causing this blood thinning? I hear that this is also true for fish oil, but there are no such warnings on my fish oil bottle. I appreciate your answer.

#45 Is arctic krill oil better than fish?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-09-30 14:16.

What is better, Arctic krill oil or fish oil? Isn’t Arctic krill oil and fish oil the same, and if not, why is krill oil better than fish oil? Kerry

#46 Its Antarctic krill oil, not Arctic krill oil

Submitted by Liz1942 on Thu, 2010-09-30 14:22.

  Krill oil is actually from the Antarctic, krill oil is never from the Arctic. As for whether or not krilloil is better than fish oil, pure krill oil is better than fish oil because it contain phospholipid bound omega-3’s and a powerful red antioxidant called astaxanthin, which gives krill oil names like “big red” or “Mega Red”. Liz

#47 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Kerry on Thu, 2010-09-30 14:23.

Sorry, my mistake. I thought that krill oil was from the Arctic. My health food store tells me that they have plenty liquid fish oils, but that there is no pure Antarctic liquid krill oil. I am looking for pure Antarctic liquid krill oil because that way I use to take my cod liver fish oil.

#48 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Thu, 2010-09-30 14:24.

  Many people mix up Arctic krill oil and Antarctic krill oil. Your health food store is right: as of now krill oil is not yet in liquid krill oil form available for consumers due to pure krill oil’s fishy taste and smell in its liquid form. One advantage of krill oil supplements versus fish oil is thatkrill oil pills are smaller than fish oil tablets. For many krill oil is better than fish oil because thekrill oil pills are so much smaller, because the recommended krill oil dosage is 1000 mg or two 500 mg pills.

#49 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Kerry on Tue, 2010-09-28 14:25.

I prefer Antarctic krill oil vs cod liver oil, only if I could find bulk krill oil liquid. I already take 20 supplement pills each day, and I don’t want to add four more krill oil tablets.

#50 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Tue, 2010-09-28 14:27.

It isn't hard to compare krill oil vs cod liver oil: Liquid bulk krill oil is not yet on the market, vs liquid fish oil is. You don’t need to take 4 krill oil pills, because the recommended krill oil dosage is 1000 mg vs 3000 mg for fish oil dose.

#51 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil

Submitted by Kerry on Thu, 2010-09-30 10:41.

What’s the krill oil dose for children, vs the daily dose for fish oil for children?

#52 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Thu, 2010-09-30 14:42.

  Bulk krill oil suppliers don’t recommend a specific dosage for children. Common sense tells go with the relative body weight: 1000 mg for a 150 lbs adult versus 500 mg krill oil dosage for a 75 lbs child. As to your question of krill vs fish oil dose, that would be 3 times less krill oil than fish oil.

#53 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Thu, 2010-09-30 11:12.

  Bulk krill oil suppliers don’t recommend a specific dosage for children. Common sense tells go with the relative body weight: 1000 mg for a 150 lbs adult versus 500 mg krill oil dosage for a 75 lbs child. As to your question of krill vs fish oil dose, that would be 3 times less krill oil than fish oil.

#54 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Kerry on Mon, 2010-09-27 09:38.

Why can I take less krill oil vs fish oil? The manager at the health food store said that omega 3 in krill oil is less than in cod liver fish oil.

#55 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Mon, 2010-09-27 09:45.

  The answer is pure Antarctic krill oil is better absorbed than fish oil, and that’s why the recommended daily dose is only two small krill oil capsules, versus three large capsules for fishoil. When it comes to ease of use, then krill oil wins vs fish oil. Personally I never liked cod liveroil as a kid, but do like to take my daily krill oil dose.

#56 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Kerry on Mon, 2010-09-27 12:28.

I believe that liquid fish oil is fresher than krill oil pills because the fish oil is refrigerated and the Antarctic krill oil pills are not.

#57 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Mon, 2010-09-27 12:35.

  What’s fresher: krill oil or fish oil? The Antarctic krill oil preservation is better with natural red antioxidant in krill oil vs fish oil being preserved with vitamin E from soy. Also, your liquid fish oilbottle is opened again and again and can become rancid and fishy more easily, whereas krill oilis sealed in a capsule, which keeps it fresh for two years. No refrigeration needed for krill oil, versus fish oil liquid which you will definitely need to keep in refrigerator.

#58 Is arctic krill oil better than fish oil?

Submitted by Liz1942 on Mon, 2010-09-27 14:30.

I believe that liquid fish oil is fresher than krill oil pills because the fish oil is refrigerated and the Antarctic krill oil pills are not.

#59 krill oil and the military

Submitted by Joe53 on Tue, 2010-08-31 10:12.

  I wouldn't exaggerate the blood thinning effect of krill oil omega-3 either. Point in case is the news today that the USA joint chiefs of staff recommend the use of omega-3 in the military. If the blood thinning would be really a concern for healthy people, they would be the last to make that omega-3 recommendation.... Here's what Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote today about omega-3 and military fitness: "It is also true that what we put into our bodies has just as much importance as how we prepare our minds and bodies. The emerging science behind the positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids on mood indicate that diet is not simply a matter of maintaining ideal body weight. Fitness cannot be separated completely from nutrition. Stress eating may just be compounded by the fact that we present so many “comfort foods” in deployed settings—where the ability to expend calories is ever present; yet upon return, individuals with much lower calorie requirements continue to ingest these high-fat and high-carb diets." He then goes on to call on the military scientists to tell him what a healthy omega-3 dose should be.

Joe53

#60 Krill Oil and Blood Thinning Explained

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-08-17 18:21.

This is a complex matter. Blood clotting (coagulation) is usually caused by too much thromboxanes in the blood. Anti-coagulant drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) and Aspirin target one of these thromboxane factors, and block their process. The clotting process is basically when platelets (blood cells) become sticky and clump together. Thromboxanes are made from lipids. Certain thromboxanes are far more sticky than others. Herein lies the blood thinning effect of omega 3, including krill oil omega 3s. The omega 3 lipids produce far less potent thromboxanes, and by doing so shift the balance between coagulation and anti-coagulation forces in your blood more towards the blood thinning side. It's important to understand that all these blood thinning factors act differently, and thus work cumulatively. That's why it's important to warn people when they use other blood thinners such as Aspirin and Coumadin. This doesn't mean that krill oil omega 3's interfere with prescription drugs. It may well be that poor diet (omega 3 deficiency) caused the blood clotting to start with, and that in the long run a diet change is preferred over drug intervention. It may be wise to consider a health strategy in which omega 3 intake slowly and carefully (under medical supervision) can replace or reduce the use of blood thinning prescriptions. I am not a medical doctor, and if in doubt, consult your own physician. PS. This doesn't explain why krill oil manufacturers put an anticoagulation warning on their label and fish oil manufacturers (typically) don't. I believe, they all should. Joe53

#61 Krill Oil Dangers

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-08-20 09:56.

Are their any other krill oil dangers?

#62 Krill Oil Side Effects

Submitted by Joe53 on Sat, 2010-08-28 18:45.

To clarify: none of the patients in any of krill oil clinical studies reported any side effects, and thekrill oil dosage in the clinical trials was as high as 3,000 mg (6 capsule dose per day). The label warnings (allergy and blood thinning) are nothing more than common sense, These common sense warnings are based on what's already known about the risks of consuming omega-3 and crustaceans. Additionally, one krill oil product has received the status of Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS notification) from the USA Food and Drug Administration. This doesn't automatically mean that there are no side effects possible, but it does mean that this krill oil supplement is generally safe. The GRAS safety notification from the FDA is a public document, and is available on the FDA web site. All three major krill oil manufacturers have received Novel Food Status or equivalency status in the European Union in 2009. That approval process took more than 3 years of rigorous reviews by the authorities. These public reviews included the safety of krill oil and the possible krill oil side effects. When the Europeans evaluated the safety of krill oil they looked at the safety record from many years of krill oil use in the USA. These EU safety reviews are also publicly available on the internet.

Joe53

#63 Other krill oil DANGERS / seafood allergy

Submitted by Joe53 on Thu, 2010-08-26 18:26.

Don't touch krill oil if you have a seafood allergy. People who can not eat shrimp, lobster or other - crustacean - shellfish MUST also STAY AWAY from krill. Even though the oil is most likely so purified that the allergens have been removed together with the proteins, it is simply not worth the risk. Don't take krill oil if you have that allergy. Anyone who has had a seafood allergy attack knows that it is potentially too dangerous. In Europe it is mandatory to also warn against fish allergy on a krill oil label, because there's no guarantee that a fish didn't slip into the krillnet. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases the prevalence of seafood allergy in the general population is 0.4 percent to fish, 2.0 percent to shellfish and 0.2 percent to both. Seafood allergy is less common in children (0.6 percent) than adults (2.8 percent). So it is more common than you think. According to the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) there are 8 major food allergens. Here's what they say about that.

What Are Major Food Allergens?

While more than 160 foods can cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies, the law identifies the eight most common allergenic foods. These foods account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions, and are the food sources from which many other ingredients are derived. The eight foods identified by the law are:

1.    Milk

2.    Eggs

3.    Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)

4.    Crustacean shellfish (e.g. crab, lobster, shrimp)

5.    Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)

6.    Peanuts

7.    Wheat

8.    Soybeans

Know the Symptoms Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. Allergic reactions can include 

·         Hives

·         Flushed skin or rash

·         Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth

·         Face, tongue, or lip swelling

·         Vomiting and/or diarrhea

·         Abdominal cramps

·         Coughing or wheezing

·         Dizziness and/or lightheadedness

·         Swelling of the throat and vocal cords

·         Difficulty breathing

·         Loss of consciousness

Joe53


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