Welcome to another podcast episode of our Krill Oil Special series. This time, we’re focusing on krill oil and its impressive impact on the brain.
Have you ever wondered how you can support your mental health and protect your brain from aging? In this post, we explore how krill oil can have a significant influence on the way our brain functions and why it is a turbo-boost for our mental health.
The brain and how it functions
Let’s start with a look at our brain. It is the most amazing and complex organ in the human body. It consists of billions of nerve cells connected in a complex network via synapses. A true labyrinth. And brain research is far from finished here. What we know so far: these tiny nerve cells, also known as neurons, are the fundamental building blocks of our thinking, remembering, feeling, and acting.
The brain is divided into different areas to which various functions can be assigned. For example, the formation of memories takes place in the hippocampus, while the frontal lobe is more activated during complex thought processes and decision-making. In a networked organ like the brain, these areas naturally work together to enable our thinking, feeling, learning, and acting. In short: our brain is the seat of our consciousness and our personality.
Apart from that, the brain is also the control center for many vital functions. It controls our breathing, our heartbeat, our blood pressure, and ensures that all our organs function properly.
Does the brain age, too?
And just like other organs, the brain ages as well. The number of neurons tends to decrease in advanced age, and signal transmission between them slows down. This can lead to memory problems, reduced cognitive ability, and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Therefore, it is crucial to protect our mental health and the functioning of our brain. Of course, a healthy lifestyle is part of this. Exercising regularly, maintaining good friendships and acquaintances, paying attention to good sleep, learning new things, eating a balanced diet, and... additionally supporting and promoting the brain with the right nutrients.
How can krill oil support the brain?
This is where krill oil comes into play. Let’s look at which ingredients in krill oil are valuable for our brain. Krill oil is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). It promotes healthy brain functions. This is because DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain and plays a central role in signal transmission between neurons. This transmission ensures that information is relayed in our brain. For example: remembering names or making decisions.
But what is truly special about krill oil is that it naturally contains phospholipids. They consist of phosphorus, a mineral, and lipids, which are fats. What makes them so interesting? We already talked about that in our Krill Oil Special Podcast Episode 6: “Phospholipids and what makes them so special”.
Let me briefly explain it again: phospholipids promote the absorption of DHA and EPA into the cell membranes, i.e., the cell walls, including the walls of brain cells. They are also important building blocks for our cells themselves. Thanks to the phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids reach the neurons faster, where they are urgently needed. Phospholipids act like a kind of highway for omega-3 fatty acids and a bouncer that lets them into the cell faster and integrates them more effectively.
Studies on the effect of krill oil on the brain
Even more valuable for brain health is another ingredient in krill oil: the micronutrient choline. In 2011, a study (1) examined the relationship between choline intake and cognitive performance as well as brain structure in 1,391 people who did not have dementia. The results showed that higher choline intake was associated with better cognitive performance. This applied particularly to memory and visual recall. Furthermore, it was shown that people who had consumed more choline in the past showed fewer signs of brain atrophy (brain shrinkage) and little to no so-called “white matter hyperintensities (WMH)” in the brain. These are associated with normal brain function. Doctors use WMH findings to assess brain health. Accordingly, a specialist article from 2021 points to the importance of choline for the cognitive functions of the brain.(2)
A study from 2022 was even able to provide evidence that a low intake of choline increased the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia.(3) Conversely, it is suspected that an adequate supply of choline could help reduce the risk of dementia diseases.
The positive correlation between omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive performance has also been researched. A study with more than 2,000 participants(4) was able to demonstrate that those with a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood performed significantly better in tests that required abstract thinking. In addition, their hippocampus tended to have a larger volume. This region of the brain is particularly activated when forming memories.
Furthermore, there are already isolated studies that have observed that people with a higher supply of omega-3 fatty acids develop dementia less frequently. A study from 2020 should be mentioned here.(5)
As always, you can find the sources for the studies mentioned here linked in the show notes below this podcast.
Conclusion
That was quite a lot of information at once. Let's summarize it one more time: krill oil has a truly amazing effect on our brain. With its omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, and choline, it can help support cognitive abilities, alleviate memory problems, and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Of course, krill oil is not a miracle cure and cannot compensate for a lack of a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, good sleep quality, fulfilling friendships, and regular exercise. However, as a supplement, it is recommended for your brain's performance well into old age.
That's it for today! Stay tuned to learn more about health and well-being. We look forward to welcoming you to our next podcast episode. And of course, we would also appreciate it if you recommended us to others. You can also find all podcast episodes in the Medicom #livingbetter online magazine under Podcasts. Take care and stay active.
Study references:
1.) 2011 study on choline and cognitive performance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22071706/
2.) 2021 study on choline and cognitive brain functions: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32993309/
3.) 2022 study on low choline intake and risk for neurodegenerative diseases: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37208066/
4.) 2022 study on omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive performance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36198518/
5.) 2020 study on omega-3 fatty acids and lower risk for dementia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33090665/
• If you have further questions and would like to learn more about krill oil, do not hesitate to contact your trusted doctor or our free Medicom vital substance consultation at 0800 50 400 50. And of course, you can also find more articles and podcasts here in the online magazine in our Krill Oil Special or under Podcasts
