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What Are the Fatty Acids in Krill Oil?

Krill are small shrimp-like crustaceans that provide food for most of the sea life in the Antarctic. Lately, companies have been selling krill oil in capsules for its health benefits, including the presence of omega-3 fatty acids.

  1. Fatty Acids

    • According to Dr. Michael R. Eades, who specializes in bariatric, nutritional and metabolic medicine, krill oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapaentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

    Benefits

    • According to the American Heart Association, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help people who have abnormal heart beats, heart disease and high blood pressure.

    Not Fish Oil

    • The omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil differ from those found in fish oil. In krill oil, the fatty acids are arranged in a double chain phospholipid structure, which is the same as the structure of fat cells in the human body. This means that the human body absorbs krill oil much more effectively than fish oil.

    Anti-oxidant

    • Krill oil also contains astaxanthin, which is a powerful anti-oxidant. According to Eades, astaxanthin is 48 times more potent than fish oil in its ability to absorb oxidized radicals in the body.

    Other benefits

    • In addition to containing vital omega-3 fatty acids, krill oil also contains vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D. According to Eades, it can also lower LDL cholesterol, known as the bad cholesterol, and lower blood sugar.

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