Benefits of red krill oil
OUR health becomes even more important as we grow older. With enough supply of omega-3 fatty acids we can maintain our health, or even help our body when we are sick, and influence diseases.
This relationship has been recognised in over 15,000 scientific papers, and research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids are important in the prevention and treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
One rather novel source of omega3 fatty acids is krill oil extracted from Euphausia superba, an Antartic krill species. Because krill feed on marine algae that can produce omega-3 fatty acids, they accumulate these fatty acids in their eggs and body. The omega-3 fatty acids can be harvested in the form of krill oil.
Moreover, since algae can synthesise the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin, this carotenoid is equally taken up by krill and protects omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation.
The latter is also the reason for the characteristic deep-red colour of krill oil. According to clinical studies, krill oil has 48 times higher antioxidant level compared to omega-3 sourced from fish.
Most importantly, in krill oil, the majority of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are bound to a particular type of fat, called a phospholipid, whereas in the other marine oils these omega-3 fatty acids are bound to other forms of fat, usually either triglycerides or ethyl esters.
This difference is quite significant, impacting the way these fats are incorporated in our tissues and used by the body.
Triglycerides are mainly used as either energy or as energy storage in fat tissues.
When omega-3 fatty acids are delivered in triglyceride form, some of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids are burned as energy or stored in the body’s fat reserves. Therefore, the dosage of triglyceride omega-3 oils must be large enough to compensate for that loss.
According to clinical studies, you require 37% less oil when taking omega-3 from krill compared to omega-3 sourced from fish.
Recent studies have shown that phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids may be the more desirable form of omega-3 fatty acids. Compared with triglycerides omega-3 fatty acids, less phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids are required to reach equal accumulation in the body’s cells and organs.
Additionally, due to the structure of phospholipids themselves, they can mix with water unlike other fats.
In this way, krill oil is dispersible in the stomach fluids, reducing or eliminating the fishy aftertaste commonly associated with fish oil capsules.
Nature’s Way Red Krill Oil is the first krill oil to be introduced in
Malaysia. It contains 100% krill oil harvested from krill biomass that lives in the pristine Antarctic Ocean. The No.1 Krill Oil brand in Australia is manufactured using proprietary technique to ensure freshness and without fishy taste. It is available in leading pharmacies nationwide.
This article is bought to you by Nature’s Way.
■ For more details, call 03-7932 2138 or visit www.mynaturesway.com.my
References
– Dr. rer. nat. Lena Burri: Krill Oil. The superior source of omega-3 fatty acids. Health Benefits of Omega-3 Phospholipids from the Southern Ocean Siebrecht Gesundheitsbücher –Band1.
– Cicero AFG, et al., Lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 ethyl esters and krill oil: a randomized, cross-over, clinical trial. Arch Med Sci. 2016; 12, 3: 507-512.
– Ulven SM, et al., Metabolic effects of Krill oil are essentially similar to those of fish oil but at lower dose of EPA and DHA, in healthy volunteers. Lipids (2011) 46:37-46