by Parris M. Kidd, Ph.D.
Krill Omega-3 Oil:
Nutraceutical Synergy On the Cutting Edge
The krill is a hardy, shrimp-like
creature abundant in all the
oceans. Antarctic krill (Euphausia
superba) are adapted to surviving
Earth’s coldest waters
through their high complement of longchain
omega-3 fatty acids—EPA (eicosapentaenoic
acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic
acid), much of which is linked to phospholipids.
These provide high nutritional value
and krill is a traditional food in Japan. Now
from the Antarctic krill comes Neptune
Krill Oil™ (NKO™), a synergistic nutraceutical
complex with novel and unusual
benefits.
Made by Neptune of Canada, pure krill
oil is distinct from fish oil by having a high
content of phospholipids. These nutrients
are called “life’s building blocks” because
they make cell membranes, the microscopic
structures that manage most of the important
business of life. Within the cell membrane
system the phospholipids have a
structural and functional synergy with fatty
acids and antioxidants. Biochemical synergy
between these three important nutraceutical
classes is crucial to maintaining the conditions
necessary for life (homeostasis). Krill
oil is a prototype of this profound synergy.
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO): The Synergistic Choice
Neptune’s Krill Oil carries a high proportion
of its EPA and DHA in the form of phospholipids.
Much of the fatty acid content is
structurally integrated with phospholipid
molecules, just as occurs in cell membranes.
Neptune Krill Oil typically has more than 40
percent phospholipids by weight (mostly PC,
phosphatidylcholine) and upwards of 30 percent
EPA+DHA. Its PC content also makes
krill oil a good source of choline, an essential
nutrient. Fish oils have none of these qualities
—their EPA+DHA are almost totally in the
form of triglycerides.
Also present in krill oil are potent antioxidants
and these apparently make the oil
exceptionally stable. For krill oil the oxidative
stability index, the time for which it
resists oxidation, exceeds 50 hours at 97.8
degrees Celsius. Fish oils typically do not
exceed eight hours at 80 degrees Celsius, and
they are notoriously unstable.
Three Potent Nutraceutical Classes in One Supplement
Clinical research on the long-chain omega-3s
EPA and DHA continues at a near-feverish
pace. EPA+DHA are proven essential for fetal
and early childhood development. They hold
exciting potential to benefit childhood
learning and behavioral disorders. EPA+DHA
fight inflammatory processes that drive
degenerative joint, circulatory, digestive and
brain diseases. They work integrally with
antioxidants at the level of the cell
membrane. Therein they are situated as
“tails” on the phospholipids. By delivering
substantial quantities of omega-3s in a similar
form—co-functionalized with phospholipid
molecules—krill oil helps optimize the
omega-3 fatty acid benefits. And the powerful
antioxidants it carries contribute to its
natural synergy in support of homeostasis
and against inflammation.
The carotenoid astaxanthin, small
amounts of vitamin A and vitamin E, and a
novel bioflavonoid all contribute to the
exceptional stability and antioxidant potency
of Neptune’s Krill Oil. The ORAC value
(oxygen radical absorbance capacity) measures
capacity to block the peroxy radical, one
of the more common oxygen-derived radicals
in vivo. In direct ORAC comparisons milligram
for milligram, the value of NKO was
found to be some 48 times that of fish oil and
34 times that of coenzyme Q10. This helps
explain its exceptional stability against
oxygen, heat and light.
Astaxanthin is a cell-membrane (lipidphase)
antioxidant that is particularly effective
at quenching singlet oxygen and
hydroxyl radicals, two highly reactive oxygen
derivatives that are by-products of cell energy
production. Smoking, chemical pollutants,
excessive ultraviolet exposure, antioxidant
deficiency or infections can elevate these
reactive free radicals to damage our cells’
DNA and membrane systems. Astaxanthin is
very good at protecting the cell membrane
phospholipids against free radical damage
(peroxidation).
The krill is a hardy, shrimp-like creature abundant in all the oceans.
Astaxanthin is also an excellent protectant
against ultraviolet light (UV). This
helps explain why NKO protects against
UV-induced skin damage, inflammation
and neoplastic transformation in a mouse
experimental model. Astaxanthin also has
anti-inflammatory activity in animal experimental
models. A study with human subjects
found that astaxanthin protected LDL
cholesterol against premature oxidative
breakdown.
Clinical research with NKO indicates it is
at least twice as biologically active as fish oils.
Its main constituents, namely EPA+DHA
structurally integrated with phospholipids
and with potent antioxidants, have a functional
synergy. It deserves to be called The
Synergistic Choice.
A Wide Range of Benefits for PMS
As many as 85–97 percent of women of
reproductive age experience a variety of physical
discomforts and emotional problems
during their monthly cycle. This symptom
array is commonly called PMS (premenstrual
syndrome). NKO is the first effective means
for managing PMS.
Physicians of the University of Montreal,
McGill University and other medical centers
in Quebec conducted a double-blind, randomized,
controlled clinical trial with NKO
for PMS. Of 70 otherwise healthy women
volunteers, 36 were placed on NKO at 2
grams/day, every day for the first month then
just for 10 days of the month (eight days
prior to and two days during menstruation)
for the succeeding two months. A commercial
“18:12” fish oil (18 percent EPA, 12 percent
DHA) was given at equivalent dosage to
the other 34 women. Ten parameters were
measured at baseline, after 45 days and after
90 days, corresponding to those that officially define PMS. The main findings:
- Krill oil was effective for all the menstrual
difficulties, whether physical or emotional. It
had a 100 percent range of benefit (all 10 of the
10 measures improved), while the fish oil was
only 30 percent effective (three of the 10 measures).
Krill oil worked faster, being fully effective
by the second menstrual cycle while the
fish oil took three cycles to reach its maximum
30 percent benefit. Unlike the krill group, 64
percent of the women taking the fish oil complained
of unpleasant reflux effects.
- Krill oil preferentially benefited breast tenderness, feeling of inadequacy, stress, irritability, depression, joint discomfort and bloating. Both groups improved on weight gain, abdominal discomfort and swelling.
- Subjects taking krill oil reported improved alertness, energy, and well-being. Their need for analgesic drugs declined. One woman said, “Both my physical and emotional symptoms have improved by nearly 100 percent . . .With a vivid interest, I recommend NKO to all women suffering from these ailments.”
Impressive Benefits for Hyperlipidemia and Blood Sugar
Blood lipid abnormalities—elevated LDL
and total cholesterol, reduced HDL, high
triglycerides—are epidemic in Western societies
and contribute to heart disease. In
another double-blind trial, physicians of the
University of Montreal, McGill University and
a medical center in Quebec, Canada compared
two intake levels of Neptune’s Krill Oil against
one high intake level of 18:12 fish oil. The
three-month trial involved 120 men and
women with mild to severe hyperlipidemia.
The subjects were randomly assigned to
one of four groups (30 patients per group):
krill oil 1.5 grams/day, krill oil 3 grams/day,
fish oil 3 grams/day, placebo 1.5 grams/day.
The trial lasted 90 days. Its main findings:
- Krill oil at low intake (1.5 grams/day) was significantly effective at lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the total cholesterol: HDL ratio. It elevated HDL and lowered blood sugar levels.
- Krill oil at 1.5 grams/day achieved significantly better lowering of LDL and blood sugar than did fish oil at twice the intake—3 grams/day.
- Krill oil at higher dose (3 grams/day) additionally lowered blood triglycerides, while the fish oil did not. This higher dose also was superior over fish oil for lowering LDL and glucose.
- Krill oil lacked fish oil’s unpleasant aftereffects.
In this cardiovascular trial, as with the PMS
trial, Neptune’s Krill Oil outperformed fish oil
in benefits, potency and tolerability. These
trials suggest krill oil is at least twice as effective
as fish oil milligram for milligram, works
faster than fish oil and completely lacks fish
oil’s unpleasant aftereffects.
Omega-3 Phospholipids Are Safe and Well Tolerated
As with other phospholipid preparations, NKO
has tested safe in the necessary animal and
human studies and is extremely well tolerated.
Healthy subjects taking the material reported
better concentration, less joint discomfort, less
seasonal allergy symptoms and improved skin
and hair. Since EPA+DHA are known to affect
blood viscosity, Neptune recommends a
warning be placed on the product’s labels
against co-ingestion with anticlotting medications.
Also, since krill is technically seafood,
those with known seafood allergies should
exercise caution.
Suggested dosing for krill oil is to begin
with a high daily intake for the first 30–60 days
then reduce to a maintenance level. For menstrual
cycle benefits a minimum two capsules/
day (1,000 mg) is suggested for the first
30-60 days, then a minimum one capsule/day
(500 mg) thereafter. For cardiovascular benefits a minimum three capsules/day (1,500 mg) is
indicated, tapering down to one to two capsules/
day once the blood lipid levels have
responded. In some individuals this could take
three to four months. For more timely cardiovascular
response a daily six capsules (3,000
mg) may be indicated. Intakes up to 6,000
mg/day pose no appreciable risk.
This first-generation omega-3 phospholipid
product is free from contamination.
Unlike many fish oils, Neptune Krill Oil has
negligible heavy metal content, very low peroxide
value and very high stability. Antarctic
krill is a renewable and abundant bioresource,
harvested in strict compliance with international
conservation requirements.
Krill Omega-3 Phospholipids
Are Clinically Versatile
Neptune’s Krill Oil has great potential for further
applications beyond PMS and hyperlipidemia.
A larger, more comprehensive
cardiovascular trial is underway. Some people
who take it report improved calmness and tolerance
for stress, along with higher energy and
general well-being. Some said their knee,
shoulder, finger and other arthritic pain
improved along with their joint flexibility.
Currently a double-blind trial is underway
with arthritic subjects.
A parent from Quebec related how NKO
helped her daughter recover from a serious language
delay diagnosed at age three. For several
years following her diagnosis this girl had great
difficulty in school. Then she started taking
the oil and after about four months there was
noticeable improvement in her language and
intellectual skills. Now she is 10, is doing well
in school, laughs and jokes with her friends
and enjoys being “one of the girls.”
Krill oil from Neptune has proven potential
to support diverse life processes at their
fundamental level—the cell membrane—
while simultaneously protecting against
organ-level dysfunctions. It appears to be an
anti-inflammatory nutraceutical complex with
broad application range, suitable even for
children and without the side effects of the
pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories. This
first-generation product places omega-3 phospholipids
at the cutting edge of nutraceutical
development and application.
Further Reading:
- Neptune Technologies & Bioressources. Scientific Report: NKO™, The Synergistic Choice (April 4, 2003).
- Sampalis, F. et al. Alternative Medicine Review (2003). May Vol. 8(2) pp. 171–9
- For more information visit the Web site www.PhospholipidsOnline.com
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