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Is There a Danger of Overdose With Krill Oil?

Krill oil is becoming more popular as people become more aware of its nutritional benefits. Krill oil contains essential Omega 3 fatty acids, or EFAs. Many people don't get enough EFAs in their diet, leading to poor heart health. Read on to discover more about krill oil's benefits, possible side effects and risk of overdose.

  1. What Is Krill Oil?

    • Krill oil comes from pure, organic krill. Krill are crustaceans, generally between one and six cm in length, and can be processed for their oil.

    Benefits

    • Krill oil is rich in Omega 3 EFAs, which are important for proper functioning of both the circulatory system and nervous system. Omega 3 fatty acids include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish twice a week to get the proper dietary amount.

    Why Krill Oil?

    • Unless you eat two servings of fish a week, you aren't getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet; taking krill oil supplements remedies this situation. Krill oil also contains antioxidants that neutralize harmful free radicals, and it doesn't have the bad aftertaste of fish oil.

    Dosage

    • If you have not been diagnosed with coronary heart disease and you eat fish twice a week, you don't need supplementation. Otherwise, the AHA recommends 1 g combined of EPA and DHA per day.

    Side Effects

    • General side effects are mild, and include diarrhea and indigestion. If you have a shellfish allergy or are taking blood thinners, do not use krill oil.

    Overdose

    • It would be difficult to ingest toxic levels of krill oil. Most krill oil supplements contain around 500 mg of krill oil per serving, containing approximately 75 mg EPA and DHA. Excess Omega 3 fatty acids are easily absorbed into the body, so there is no real danger of overdosing.

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