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Fatty acid

Krill Oil

Krill oil is extracted from Antarctic krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans. It contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, largely bound to phospholipids.

Also listed as Euphausiacea superba

Organ FunctionLongevityCardiovascularBone & JointHair & Skin

What it is studied for

The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.

Liver healthOrgan FunctionModerateBNo linked study
Oxidative stressLongevityModerateBNo linked study
Cholesterol balanceCardiovascularModerateBNo linked study
InflammationModerateBNo linked study
Joint ComfortBone & JointModerateBNo linked study
Skin InflammationHair & SkinSmallCNo linked study
All 12 rated effectsGrouped by health goal, with the publications behind each rating

What does krill oil provide?

Krill oil supplies the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, largely attached to phospholipids. Studies disagree on whether this form is absorbed better than fish oil. 1

Why people take it

Cardiovascular24.5%
Cognition23.5%
Essential Health19.3%
Immune Support17%
Bone & Joint6.3%
Longevity6%

SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.

Questions people ask

Does 2 g of krill oil mean 2 g of omega-3?

No. The oil includes other components; EPA and DHA amounts vary between supplements. 1

Is krill oil proven to prevent heart attacks?

The lipid review did not establish that outcome and called for trials measuring cardiovascular events. 2

Which knee-pain dose was studied?

The trials described here used 4 g or 2 g of krill oil daily. Their conflicting results do not establish a recommended dose for knee pain. 3 4

Does better absorption guarantee better cholesterol results?

No superiority over fish oil was found in the network meta-analysis of lipid outcomes. 5

Sources