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Krill Oil

Proposed Uses: Dysmenorrhea; High Cholesterol; PMS

Krill are tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that live in the Antarctic Ocean and provide food for numerous aquatic animals. Oil made from krill has come on the market as an alternative to fish oil. Like fish oil, krill oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Krill also contains omega-6 fatty acids, an antioxidant in the carotenoid family called astaxanthin, and substances called phosopholipids.

Requirements/Sources
Many grains, fruits, vegetables, sea vegetables, and vegetable oils contain significant amounts of essential fatty acids, but krill oil is an especially rich source. 

Dosage
A typical recommended dose of krill oil is 1–3 grams daily.

Therapeutic Uses
Based on its omega-3 fatty acid content, krill oil would be expected to have many of the same effects as fish oil

A few studies have evaluated krill oil specifically. In study people with high cholesterol were given krill oil, fish oil, or placebo. The results over 3 months showed that krill oil improved all aspects of cholesterol profile as compared to placebo, and was more effective than fish oil.  Krill oil also reduced blood sugar levels. Though these results need to be confirmed by independent trials, they are certainly promising.

Another study compared krill oil against fish oil for treatment of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmennorhea (menstrual cramps).  This study suffered from many problems in design and reporting, but appeared to show that krill oil was more effective than fish oil for treating both of these conditions.

Safety Issues
Based on its known constituents, krill oil would be expected to have little to no toxicity. Side effects seen in studies are limited to occasional digestive distress and allergic reactions. The only known potential concerns relate to possible blood-thinning effects: People who are at risk of bleeding complications for any reason should therefore consult a physician before taking krill oil. Maximum safe doses in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver disease have not been established.

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