Krill Oil Benefits Exhibited at A4M Conference

ORLANDO, Fla.Studies that show krill oil helped to modulate a number of physiological processes including appetite and mood in obese people were presented at the 19th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (A4M) in Orlando, FL, on Thursday, April 7, 2011. Vincenzo Di Marzo talk, "Effects of Krill Oil Supplementation on the Endocannabinoid System," highlighted human and animal research. The A4M conference brings together anti-aging experts to discuss functional and preventative medicine and bio-medical technologies.

As Di Marzo noted, a human study showed how krill oil can affect the endocannabinoid (EC) system, which is comprised of a group of lipids (fats) and receptors that act within the nervous system (Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jan 30;8(1):7). Obese persons have elevated levels of plasma ECs compared to healthy weight individuals. In the study, healthy weight, overweight and obese subjects were given 2 g/d of krill oil, fish oil or olive for four weeks. The findings demonstrated for the first time that when given in the form of krill oil a relatively low dose of phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids have beneficial effects on EC levels in obese persons.  

These conclusions are especially interesting as they confirm previous outcomes with krill oil in obese animals (JAnim Physiol Anim Nutr. 2011 Feb 25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01135.x). A research team at the University of Salento, Lecce, Italy, recently published a study of the effects of krill oil on the lipid metabolism in rats. The animals were treated for 6 weeks with diets containing 2.5-percent krill oil or 2.5-percent fish oil or a control diet without supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids. The study revealed fat-lowering effects from the omega-3 supplements, confirming the phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil are effective in reducing liver triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Krill oil reduced liver triglycerides by 20-percent compared to 10-percent in the fish oil group, whereas cholesterol levels were decreased by 33 percent (krill oil) and 21 percent (fish oil).

 According to Nils Hoem, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at Aker BioMarine, "Changes in endocannabinoid levels may be an important factor involved in potential long-term health issues, including metabolic syndrome. It is important to note that the study suggests that phospholipid form of omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil was responsible for the beneficial effects observed."