The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for health is well known and scientifically proven. Among other things, they improve blood flow properties and thus help prevent widespread cardiovascular diseases. What distinguishes krill oil from other omega-3 fatty acids? In this podcast, we provide answers to these and other questions.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Let’s start with a refresher on what we know about omega-3: omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in plants and fish. They provide essential fats that the body cannot produce itself. Therefore, they must be obtained through our diet.
There are various omega-3 fatty acids, three of which play a special role for the human organism: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), derived from plants, as well as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are primarily found in fatty sea fish, krill, and algae.
The German Nutrition Society recommends eating sea fish twice a week. This is because it is particularly rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, also known as n-3 fatty acids. Frequent consumption of sea fish can be a concern regarding environmental pollution and potential contamination. Some fish species may contain heavy metals such as mercury, PCBs, and dioxins. Many species are overfished. It is recommended to maintain a varied diet with different types of fish and, if necessary, switch to more sustainable alternatives such as smaller fish species. This is where krill comes in.
What exactly is krill oil?
Krill oil is an increasingly popular source of omega-3 fatty acids obtained from small crustaceans. These tiny creatures live in the waters of the Antarctic and, at around 500 million tonnes, make up the largest biomass in the world. Only a very small fraction of this is allowed to be fished. The conservation of this rapidly growing resource is therefore well secured.
These shrimp-like crustaceans live in swarms of up to 30,000 animals and feed on plankton and small algae. The latter are particularly rich in EPA and DHA. Furthermore, krill contains the reddish pigment astaxanthin, a particularly powerful antioxidant that protects plants. Krill oil thus not only provides high-value long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but it is also—unlike fish oil—highly antioxidant and can be sourced sustainably. Not to mention: it also provides natural choline. This micronutrient has several positive effects on the organism. For instance, choline supports liver function, the cardiovascular system, and the brain, among other things.
Why krill oil is particularly well tolerated
The omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil are in a phospholipid form, which can be better absorbed by the body than the triglyceride form found in fish oil. This makes krill oil particularly well tolerated and stomach-friendly, even for sensitive individuals. In addition, thanks to specially developed capsules, known as LiCaps®, it is odourless and tasteless. In this capsule form, it can be taken without difficulty and dissolves in the stomach unnoticed. However, krill oil is not only easier to digest than fish oil, but it also has higher bioavailability. This means that more of these high-quality nutrients are available to the body. In other words: krill oil is omega-3 in its best form.
Conclusion
Whether linseed oil, algae oil, fish oil, or krill oil—there are many ways to take omega-3 fatty acids as a dietary supplement. And every form has its supporters. Whether krill oil is truly the best form is something health-conscious individuals must decide for themselves. The advantages, however, are clear: high bioavailability, good digestibility, additional antioxidant properties, and, on top of that, sustainably sourced. That makes the decision easy.
• Did you listen to podcast episode 1? You can catch up here: Insights into the life of Antarctic krill
• You can find a selection of krill oil products here.
