Krill Oil Bioavailability: Effects Across Different Ages
Kobi NathanShare
The bioavailability of krill oil, which is higher than that of fish oil due to its phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids, impacts its effectiveness across different age groups in several ways:
Cardiovascular Health:
Krill oil's enhanced bioavailability leads to a more significant increase in the omega-3 index, which is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk.
This is particularly beneficial for older adults who are at higher risk for cardiovascular conditions.
Anti-inflammatory Properties:
The superior bioavailability of krill oil allows for more effective incorporation of EPA and DHA into cell membranes, enhancing its anti-inflammatory effects.
This can be advantageous for both younger individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions and older adults with age-related inflammation.
Neuroprotection:
Krill oil's phospholipid-bound omega-3s are more efficiently absorbed and utilized by the brain, offering greater neuroprotective benefits.
This is especially important for older adults at risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, as well as younger individuals seeking cognitive enhancement.
Metabolic Health:
Krill oil has shown promising results in improving metabolic parameters such as reducing body weight and visceral fat, which may be more pronounced due to its higher bioavailability.
This can benefit both younger individuals with metabolic syndrome and older adults managing age-related metabolic changes.
Antioxidant Effects:
The presence of astaxanthin in krill oil provides potent antioxidant effects, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
This is beneficial across all age groups, but particularly for older adults who may experience higher levels of oxidative stress.
In summary, krill oil may offer superior benefits over fish oil in terms of cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory properties, neuroprotection, metabolic health, and antioxidant effects due to its higher bioavailability, making it particularly advantageous for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions.
References:
- Enhanced Increase of Omega-3 Index in Healthy Individuals With Response to 4-Week N-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation From Krill Oil Versus Fish Oil. Ramprasath VR, Eyal I, Zchut S, Jones PJ. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2013;12:178. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-12-178.
- Clinical Effectiveness of Krill Oil Supplementation on Cardiovascular Health in Humans: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Huang H, Liao D, He B, Zhou G, Cui Y. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome. 2023;17(12):102909. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2023.102909.
- Comparison of Bioavailability of Krill Oil Versus Fish Oil and Health Effect. Ulven SM, Holven KB. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 2015;11:511-24. doi:10.2147/VHRM.S85165.
- Advances in Technologies for Highly Active Omega-3 Fatty Acids From Krill Oil: Clinical Applications. Colletti A, Cravotto G, Citi V, et al. Marine Drugs. 2021;19(6):306. doi:10.3390/md19060306.
- Can Krill Oil Be of Use for Counteracting Neuroinflammatory Processes Induced by High Fat Diet and Aging?. Andraka JM, Sharma N, Marchalant Y. Neuroscience Research. 2020;157:1-14. doi:10.1016/j.neures.2019.08.001.