9/22/2019 Krill oil vs fish oil: Which is better and why?

Is krill oil better than fish oil for

omega-3?
By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA | Last updated Mon 21 January 2019

Reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, RD

Benefits Research Risks Dosage Takeaway

Krill oil and fish oil supplements are two sources of omega-3
fatty acids including DHA and EPA. While oil from both krill
and fish provide health benefits, their origin, price, and
benefits may differ.
Fish oil comes from oily fish, such as tuna, herring, or sardines. Krill oil comes from a small,
shrimp-like animal called krill.

Krill oil has a distinctive red color, while fish oil supplements are typically yellow or gold. Krill
oil is usually more expensive than fish oil.

While each supplement type contains omega-3 fatty acids, taking each supplement type
presents various risks and benefits. Read on to find out more.

Benefits of krill oil and fish oil

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Both krill oil and fish oil contain omega-3 fatty

acids. Some of the most popular and
beneficial omega-3 fatty acids are
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

When a person consumes these fatty acids in

fish, they demonstrate supportive effects on
overall heart health and a reduction in the
risks of heart attack and coronary artery
disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in krill oil and fish oil.

However, while research has shown eating whole fish can have heart-protecting benefits,
scientific studies have not yet proven that taking omega-3 supplements offers the same
benefits as eating fish.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) state that the specific benefits of taking omega-3
supplements include:

• Reducing high triglyceride levels. High triglyceride levels have links to an increased risk
for heart disease.

• Relieving rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence suggests that omega-3 supplements may help
relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Relieving dry eye symptoms. Some people use omega-3 supplements to help improve
eye moisture and reduce the symptoms of dry eye disease. However, large-scale studies
have found that taking omega-3 supplements are no better than a placebo for eye
dryness, so more research is necessary.

Drug stores and online supermarkets sell both fish oil and krill oil supplements.

What does the research say?

A study from 2011 compared the effects of fish and krill oil, finding that they resulted in similar
blood levels of EPA and DHA. However, people took 3 grams (g) of krill oil and only 1.8 g of
fish oil, which may suggest that a person needs to take almost twice as much krill oil as fish oil
to get the same benefits.

According to the study's authors, 30–65 percent of krill oil's fatty acids are stored as
phospholipids, while the fatty acids in fish oils are instead stored primarily as triglycerides.

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The researchers suggest that the body may able to use fatty acids stored as phospholipids
more easily. However, despite this possibility, a person may still have to take more krill oil
capsules than fish oil to get an equivalent amount of omega-3s.

The amount and concentration of omega-3 in krill and fish oil also vary depending on the
product. Some krill oil manufacturers claim that the krill oil omega-3s are better absorbed than
fish oil omega-3s, so a lower concentration works just as well. However, there is no current
proof that this statement is true.

Another small-scale study published in 2013 found that after 4 weeks of taking only one of the
supplements, krill oil led to higher levels of EPA and DHA in a person's blood compared with
fish oil. Although both supplements increased levels of healthful omega-3 fatty acids, they
also increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the 'bad'
cholesterol.

Studies are not consistent, though. A study from 2015 found no differences in krill oil and fish
oil in the blood after 4 weeks of taking supplements.

While some research suggests that the body might better absorb krill oil, other studies find no
difference between fish and krill oil. More research is therefore needed.

The above research only looks effects of the oil on blood levels, which is just one marker of
their potential benefits. No study has compared these products to see if one works better
than the other for the specific uses that people are interested in, such as bodybuilding or
promoting heart health.

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Risks of krill oil and fish oil

Taking omega-3 supplements in the forms of krill oil and fish oil does not appear to carry any
significant side effects.

Minor side effects may include:

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9/22/2019 Krill oil vs fish oil: Which is better and why?

Omega-3 supplements present no significant risks, but a person

may experience bad breath as a result.

• bad breath

• diarrhea

• a headache

• heartburn

• unpleasant-smelling sweat

• upset stomach

Also, omega-3 supplements, such as krill oil and fish oil, have the potential to interact
negatively with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin).

This is because omega-3 fatty acids have mild anticoagulant or blood-thinning effects.
However, a person must usually take between 3 and 6 g of fish oil a day for these adverse
interactions to occur.

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Dosage recommendations
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) advises no established upper limit for taking omega-
3 supplements. However, taking dosages of more than 900 milligrams (mg) of EPA and 600
mg of DHA a day can reduce a person's immune system by suppressing natural inflammatory
responses.

According to the ODS, daily intakes for omega-3 fatty acids are about 1.6 g per day for men
and 1.1 g per day for women.

The ODS also recommend not exceeding 2 g of EPA and DHA a day from dietary
supplements. A person should read supplement labels carefully to determine how much of
each substance is in each capsule.

Takeaway
According to the ODS, an estimated 7.8
percent of adults and 1.1 percent of children
in the United States take omega-3 fatty acid
supplements in the forms of fish oil, krill oil, or
animal-free alternatives, such as algal oil or
flaxseed oil.

The evidence is still inconclusive about

whether krill oil works as well as or better
than fish oil. So far, most of the research on
the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids has been Omega-3 may help to reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

carried out using fish oil. Not a lot of research

is currently available on krill oil.

Taking omega-3 supplements can offer benefits in terms of lowering triglyceride levels and
reducing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. However, the evidence is inconclusive regarding
whether they can reduce heart disease or improve overall cardiovascular health to the same
extent as eating whole fish.

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According to the NIH, eating oily fish, including tuna and salmon, can offer a greater variety of
nutrients than supplements and has demonstrated improvements in heart health.

On balance, taking either krill oil or fish oil supplements can help boost a person's overall
levels of omega-3 fatty acids, though whether one is better than the other is currently unclear.

Q:
What are the best supplements for heart health?

A:
Getting your daily nutritional needs from a healthful diet is always the healthiest
option.

A person can take supplements in addition to healthy dietary choices and nutrient-
dense foods. They should not use supplements as a replacement for nutritious
meals.

People with heart disease may benefit from an omega-3 fatty acid supplement if
diet alone is not sufficient. As always, consult a healthcare professional before
beginning any new supplement.

― Katherine Marengo LDN, RD

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and
should not be considered medical advice.

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