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
Can it improve cholesterol?
A 2023 analysis of 14 trials involving 1,458 people found reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. These blood-test changes do not establish fewer heart attacks or deaths; the authors identified those as questions for future trials. 1
The pooled lipid findings are encouraging, but cardiovascular outcomes remain unresolved. 1
What about inflammation and blood pressure?
The same review found no improvement in inflammatory markers or blood pressure across the included trials. Its favorable cholesterol results should not be extended to those outcomes. 1
Why do knee-pain studies disagree?
In 235 adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, 4 g daily for six months produced a modest additional improvement in pain compared with placebo. A later trial in 262 people with knee pain and joint inflammation on MRI found no pain benefit from 2 g daily over 24 weeks. The populations and doses differed. 2 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Organ Function1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Longevity1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Cardiovascular2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Bone & Joint1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Hair & Skin3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Cognition3 effects
Other effects1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Krill oil improved osteoarthritic knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a 6-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022