Krill oil and its phospholipids: the key to a healthy heart

More than 520 million people worldwide live with cardiovascular disease, making it one of the most important and relevant threats to our health and healthcare systems. The good news is that the risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by a healthy diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as krill oil , and a healthy lifestyle.

Maintain a healthy heart throughout your life

Our heart is undoubtedly the most important muscle in our body. It works continuously from the moment it begins to develop until our entire lives. The main function of the heart is to pump oxygenated blood, along with hormones and other vital nutrients, throughout the body through a network of blood vessels, such as arteries and veins.

It can be said that the heart is the engine of the entire body, so it is important to provide it with what it needs and create an environment in which it will thrive. There are many things you can do regularly to support your heart:

Healthy diet

Cut down on alcohol, smoking, and other habits that harm your health. Eat a varied diet rich in nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, and fish.

Movement

Like all our muscles, the heart loves a workout. Getting your heart rate up a few times a week during moderate exercise helps keep your heart strong, functioning properly, and in good shape for a long, healthy life. 

Dietary supplements

It makes sense to be proactive about your heart health, and this is where supplementation can play a key role. A recently published meta-analysis of studies (Khan 2021) concluded that omega-3 fatty acid (EPA and DHA) intake reduced cardiovascular disease mortality and improved outcomes.

Omega-3 phospholipids from krill oil benefit heart health

Krill oil is a supplement derived from Antarctic krill that contains omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), choline, and phospholipids – three nutrients that support the proper function of a healthy heart.

Krill oil has been extensively studied for its numerous health benefits. It is best known for its heart-healthy properties, thanks to its naturally occurring levels of choline and omega-3 fatty acids. Krill oil has been shown to improve three heart health markers associated with cardiovascular disease in several published clinical trials. An updated review and meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of krill oil supplementation and heart health confirmed consistent and positive results. Fourteen studies with 1,458 participants showed that krill oil supplementation had a beneficial effect on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. These promising results, published in the journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews (Huang 2023), further confirm the enormous potential of krill oil for heart health.

Krill oil increases the Omega-3 Index in the body

Studies have shown that krill oil increases levels of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, in red blood cell membranes. The optimal Omega-3 Index value is 8% or higher, which is associated with healthy heart function. Unfortunately, most of the population does not reach this value due to low intake of omega-3 sources such as fatty fish.

Krill oil has been shown to increase the Omega-3 Index in just 30 days (Ramprasath 2013).

Benefits of Omega-3 from Krill for Cholesterol

A study by Bunea et al. (2004) found that krill oil supplementation for 12 weeks resulted in significant reductions in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increases in HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Another clinical study in 2016 confirmed these results (Cicero 2016).

Reducing triglyceride levels thanks to krill oil

A study of over 500 participants, published in 2022 in the journal JAMA Network Open (Mozaffarian 2022), showed that krill oil reduced triglyceride levels by 33.5% over 26 weeks. An older 2014 study by Berge et al. (2014) showed similar effects over 12 weeks of use.

Krill Oil with Omega-3 DHA and EPA: Natural Support for Heart Health

Growing awareness of the importance of prevention has led to an increase in interest in natural dietary supplements. Consumers are looking for effective ways to support not only heart health, but also overall physical and mental health. The omega-3 fatty acids and choline contained in krill oil have both EU and FDA approved health claims, confirming their benefits for heart health.

Invest in your health today and include krill oil in your daily regimen - your heart will thank you! Discover the benefits of krill oil with a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in POLAR PLANKTON OMEGA-3 PLUS from NEOBOTANICS .

Reference:

Berge K, Musa-Veloso K, Harwood M, Hoem N, Burri L. Krill oil supplementation lowers serum triglycerides without increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with borderline high or high triglyceride levels. Nutr Res. 2014 Feb;34(2):126-33. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.12.003.

Bunea R, El Farrah K, Deutsch L. Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia. Altern Med Rev. 2004 Dec;9(4):420-8.

Cicero AF, Rosticci M, Morbini M, Cagnati M, Grandi E, Parini A, Borghi C. Lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 ethyl esters and krill oil: a randomized, cross-over, clinical trial. Arch Med Sci. 2016 Jun 1;12(3):507-12. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2016.59923.

Huang H, Liao D, He B, Zhou G, Cui Y. Clinical effectiveness of krill oil supplementation on cardiovascular health in humans: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2023 Dec;17(12):102909. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2023.102909.

Khan SU, Lone AN, Khan MS, Virani SS, Blumenthal RS, Nasir K, Miller M, Michos ED, Ballantyne CM, Boden WE, Bhatt DL. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Jul 8;38:100997. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100997.

Mozaffarian D, Maki KC, Bays HE, et al. Effectiveness of a Novel ω-3 Krill Oil Agent in Patients With Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2141898. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41898

Ramprasath VR, Eyal I, Zchut S, Jones PJ. 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. Lipids Health Dis. 2013 Dec 5;12:178. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-12-178.