Krill Oil

Krill oil, like fish oil, contains both EPA and DHA omega-3s, Dr. Eades says. But they hook together differently. "In fish oil these omega-3 fatty acids are found in the triglyceride form, whereas in krill oil they are hooked up in a double chain phospholipid structure," he explains. "Attached to the EPA leg of the phospholipid is a molecule of astaxanthin, an extremely potent anti-oxidant. The phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA in krill oil makes them much more absorbable and allows for a much easier entrance into the mitochondria and the cellular nucleus."

Krill are at the bottom of the food chain, so they don’t concentrate mercury the same way that fish do. The problem with krill oil is that it costs more than fish oil, Dr. Eades continues.

"Virtually all krill oil is produced by Neptune Technologies and shipped to the various supplement manufacturers, so any krill oil you get will have come from the same place and be the same dosage. The only unknown is how long it has been sitting around in a warehouse somewhere, which is, of course, the same unknown with fish oil. At least with krill oil, thanks to the high anti-oxidant content, the shelf life is much longer."

Two major supplement manufacturers, Jarrow Formulas and Source Naturals, market Neptune's NKO under their label. I take two little Jarrow Formulas softgels daily that I buy from iHerb.com. These two softgels provide 1,000 mg of Neptune Krill Oil.

While supplement companies sell krill oil, the proven need for us to boost our omega 3 to omega-6 ratio has passed into the mainstream. More than three years ago the Food and Drug Administration gave "qualified health claim" status to EPA and DHA. This U.S. government agency stated that "supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega−3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."

So far, the peer reviewed studies of krill oil itself are skimpy. But two good studies are already available.

One is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study reported just last year in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. This study, "Evaluation of the Effect of Neptune Krill Oil on Chronic Inflammation and Arthritic Symptoms," concluded that taking 300 mg of Neptune Krill Oil a day for 7-14 days "significantly inhibits inflammation and reduces arthritic symptoms."

Another study in a 2004 issue of Alternative Medicine Review, "Evaluation of the Effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the Clinical Course of Hyperlipidemia," compared Neptune Krill Oil to a high EPA and DHA fish oil and to a placebo in a double-blind randomized trial. The study concluded that "a maintenance dose of 500 mg krill oil is significantly effective for long-term regulation of blood lipids."

Now that I am using krill oil to boost my omega-3s, I continue to use chia seeds on my eggs, salads, yogurt, and other meals. But when my supplies run out, I will stop taking fish oil.

I've never had a problem with the taste of fish oil. Nor does it make me burp. But some people who have a fish oil burp problem may especially want to consider krill oil.