Study Clarifies Krill Oil Phospholipid Content

OSLO, Norway A new study of the contents of Superba krill oil found a total of 69 choline-containing phospholipids, the majority  of which contained omega-3 fatty acids. The research, a collaboration between scientists from Aker Biomarine and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Oslo, was published online ahead of print recently in Lipids.

Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry, the researchers mapped the phospholipids, including the phosphatidylcholine and lyso-phosphatidylcholine classes, in krill oil extracted from Euphausia superba. They also quantified the prevalent phosphatidylcholine class compared the results with prior analysis. A total of 69 choline-containing phospholipids were detected, including 60 phosphatidylcholine substances. Most of these phospholipids contained omega-3s, 10 percent of which had omega-3s at both the sn-1 and sn-2 chain positions. They reported the phosphatidylcholine concentration was an estimated 34 ± 5 g/100 g oil (n = 5).

Echoing the reports conclusions, Nils Hoem, PhD, vice president of R&D at Aker BioMarine, one of the study authors, noted the complexity of the phospholipids in krill oil has now been revealed and will provide  more insight in future research and product development. The characterization of phospholipids in krill is an essential part of our discovery engine and essential for future product development, he said. We are pleased that Lipids recognized this work and felt it important to publish."