Difference Between Krill Oil & Fish Oil

Both krill oil and certain types of fish oil have been touted by the media and medical research due to their content of essential fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids, according to the American Heart Association, are essential for good heart health, particularly in aiding in the reduction of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and bad cholesterol.

What is Krill Oil

• According to the Encyclopedia Britannica krill oil comes from a tiny crustacean or shrimp-like creature that lives in the frigid open waters of Antarctica. Unlike prawns or shrimp, which are bottom feeders, krill feed on tiny plankton (microscopic plants and animals) which float on the ocean's surface.

What is Fish Oil

• According to the American Heart Association, fish oil may come from cold water, deep-ocean-farmed or wild-caught fish such as mackerel, sardines, albacore tuna, cod, and salmon.

Krill Oil Benefits

• According to NOW Foods, krill oil contains a unique fatty acid profile rich in omega-3, omega-9 fatty acids and phospholipids. It is also a rich source of Astaxanthin, reported to be a powerful immune-supporting antioxidant. Clinical studies show krill oil benefits include joint support, healthy cholesterol level support, and reduction of premenstrual symptoms. Another benefit of krill oil is that it carries a lower incidence of potentially harmful levels of contaminants such as mercury, heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins, and other industrial contaminants.

  Krill oil has one huge drawback, it is a shellfish and thus those with shell fish allergies should avoid it. Compared to fish oil, krill oil is also expensive, although the dosage and capsule amount is smaller per serving

Fish Oil Benefits

• According to Medical News Today, evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements may prevent cardiovascular disease from starting in healthy individuals, reverse heart disease and atherosclerosis, and reduce cardiovascular disease-related deaths. Dietary fish oil intake has also been linked to a reduction of heart attacks and sudden cardiac failure. The studies focus on tissue levels of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which must come from food or supplements since the body is incapable of manufacturing its own.

  Those that are allergic to fish will be allergic to fish oil supplements. Often fish oil is packaged in large, hard to swallow, gel caps.

Krill Oil Environmental Impact

• According to author Mike Adams, the harvesting of krill oil is not environmentally sound since it depletes the food source of many marine animals on a large and possibly unsustainable scale. It is not as environmentally responsible as, say aquaculture of green lipped mussels for their fatty acids, which would have little impact on the ocean's food chain. Mass fishing for krill for oil also goes against the Marine Conservation Alliance Ban on Arctic Waters Fishing.

Fish Oil Environmental Impact

• While much of the fish used in the manufacture of fish oil is farmed, there is growing concern over the total marine habitat environmental impact. According to Proquest, the impact of current farming methods includes the fish feed and fish waste that is washed out to sea when produced in large amounts by densely populated fish farms. We have long known about the impact of large scale overfishing of deep sea and coastal waters on the marine ecosystems, but for centuries now we have overlooked the impact of waste produced by fish farming.