Antarctic krill oil
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Antarctic Krill Oil: Composition, Health Benefits, and Applications
Chemical Composition of Antarctic Krill Oil
Antarctic krill oil, derived from Euphausia superba, is notable for its unique lipid profile, which includes a high concentration of phospholipids (PLs) ranging from 39.29% to 80.69%1. These phospholipids are rich in essential fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are crucial for various bodily functions1. Additionally, krill oil contains bioactive components like astaxanthin, sterols, tocopherols, vitamin A, flavonoids, and minerals, contributing to its nutritional value1.
Extraction Technologies
Several extraction methods are employed to obtain krill oil, each affecting the yield and quality of the final product. These methods include solvent extraction, nonsolvent extraction, super/subcritical fluid extraction, and enzyme-assisted pretreatment extraction1. A novel two-step enzymolysis-assisted extraction has been shown to increase lipid yield significantly while reducing impurities, making it a promising method for comprehensive utilization of krill7. Another innovative approach uses switchable hydrophilicity solvents, which are environmentally friendly and efficient in extracting high-quality krill oil9.
Health Benefits of Antarctic Krill Oil
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Properties
Krill oil exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Purified phospholipids from krill oil have been shown to block the NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokines2. This anti-inflammatory activity is more pronounced in purified phospholipids compared to crude krill oil2. Additionally, krill oil mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation in various models, including ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in mice3 5.
Cardiovascular and Neuroprotective Effects
Krill oil is beneficial for cardiovascular health due to its high content of EPA and DHA, which help in reducing inflammation and improving lipid profiles1. It also shows neuroprotective effects by inhibiting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Krill oil has been found to prevent memory loss and reduce amyloid beta peptide generation in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model5.
Gastrointestinal Health
Krill oil has shown promise in protecting against gastrointestinal issues. In a study on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice, krill oil treatment ameliorated colitis symptoms, reduced inflammatory cytokine production, and improved intestinal microbiota composition10. This suggests that krill oil could be a valuable dietary supplement for managing inflammatory bowel diseases.
Current Applications and Future Directions
Krill oil is currently used in dietary supplements due to its rich nutritional profile and health benefits. However, its application as a novel food ingredient is still underexplored1. The development of krill oil-based microemulsions has been proposed to overcome challenges related to its high viscosity, low solubility, and unpleasant smell, making it more suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications6.
Nutritional and Toxicological Assessment
Compared to fish oil, krill oil is marketed as having better absorption due to its higher phospholipid content and being sourced from sustainable fisheries. However, it is essential to monitor the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in krill oil products to ensure safety and compliance with regulatory standards8.
Conclusion
Antarctic krill oil is a valuable marine resource with a unique chemical composition and numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, cardiovascular, and neuroprotective effects. Advances in extraction technologies and formulation methods are enhancing its potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Further research is needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms underlying its health benefits and to develop new krill oil-based products for human consumption.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) Oil: A Comprehensive Review of Chemical Composition, Extraction Technologies, Health Benefits, and Current Applications.
Antarctic krill oil has potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular disease prevention, women's health, neuroprotection, and anticancer activities, but further research is needed to optimize its production and consumption.
Literature Review
Highly CitedCharacterization of Molecular Species and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Purified Phospholipids from Antarctic Krill Oil
Antarctic krill oil's phospholipid liposomes show better anti-inflammatory activity than crude oil, potentially improving nutritional and medicinal value.
In Vitro StudyAntarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil modulatory effects on ethanol-induced acute injury of the gastric mucosa in rats
Antarctic krill oil has potential as a food supplement to alleviate ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and nitric oxide production.
Non-RCT
Animal StudyReal-time monitoring the oxidation characteristics of Antarctic krill oil (Euphausia superba) during storage by electric soldering iron ionization mass spectrometry based lipidomics.
The ESII-REIMS technology effectively monitors Antarctic krill oil's oxidation characteristics during storage, providing a rapid detection method for ensuring oil and fats quality during storage.
Antarctic Krill Oil Diet Protects against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Impairment
Krill oil prevents cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mice by inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid beta generation through anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-amyloidogenic mechanisms.
Non-RCTAnimal StudyPreparation and Characterization of Microemulsions Based on Antarctic Krill Oil
The developed microemulsion formula successfully creates a stable, high-nutritional krill oil product with improved processing and stability characteristics.
Two-Step Enzymolysis of Antarctic Krill for Simultaneous Preparation of Value-Added Oil and Enzymolysate
Two-step enzymolysis-assisted extraction of Antarctic krill produces value-added oil and enzymolysate simultaneously, maximizing nutrient content and reducing impurities without further refining.
A Nutritional-Toxicological Assessment of Antarctic Krill Oil versus Fish Oil Dietary Supplements
Antarctic krill oil products meet nutritional specifications and contain intermediate levels of persistent organic pollutants compared to other fish oil products on the Australian market.
Very Rigorous JournalEffective Antarctic krill oil extraction using switchable hydrophilicity solvents
Switchable hydrophilicity solvents (DMCHA) effectively extract Antarctic krill oil, preserving its nutritional value and environmental friendliness, while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
Protective effects of Antarctic krill oil in dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis mice
Antarctic krill oil effectively reduces inflammation, improves intestinal health, and may be a promising dietary treatment for ulcerative colitis.
Non-RCTAnimal Study