Is krill oil as good as fish oil? What’s krill oil you ask? Krill oil comes from Krill, which are tiny, shrimp like animals that whales and other sea dwellers eat for food. The oil of krill has become an alternative to fish oil supplements mostly because some people say that krill oil doesn't give them a “fishy smell” to their breath –like many report from fish oil. Let’s review the research on krill oil and try to see if it’s right for you.
What is Krill Oil?
The oil of krill is rich in fish oils – EPA and DHA – and contains other things like omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids. Krill oil also contains a carotenoid called astaxanthin, which gives krill and other sea animals pink color. Krill oil is often obtained from Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superb) but other species may be 
used also.
Krill Oil Health Benefits
Currently, most of the research on krill oil has centered on heart disease and arthritis. Let’s look at the research on each separately.
Does Krill Lower Cholesterol?
Because krill oil has EPA and DHA (the “fish oils”), people often wonder if krill oil can lower cholesterol levels – and other issues of heart disease. In one 3 month study involving 120 people with high cholesterol, Krill oil lowered cholesterol more than compared to a placebo. It also lowered “bad cholesterol” (LDL) and raised “good cholesterol” (HDL).
To get these results, people were given 1-1.5 grams of krill oil daily. At 3 grams a day, krill oil also appeared to lower triglycerides and glucose levels.
The Krill oil used in this study was Neptune Krill oil.
Ironically, in another study – lasting 7 weeks and involving 113 healthy people – Krill oil seemed no better than fish oil at reducing cholesterol levels or other markers of heart disease. Krill oil was no worse than fish oil either. In this study, people were given 3 grams of fish oil per day (which contained 543 mg of EPA and DHA).
Krill Oil and Arthritis
In one animal study, krill oil appeared to prevent arthritis development in mice. The type of arthritis we are talking about is rheumatoid arthritis however osteoarthritis may also be helped. So how much might help people with arthritis?
Well, one study of 90 people noticed that 300 mg of Neptune Krill oil reduced CRP levels by over 19% after 30 days of use, compared to placebo.
This was paralleled by significant reductions in rheumatoid arthritis pain and stiffness also.
Conversely, in the study of healthy people mentioned previously, Krill oil did not reduce CRP levels. Both of these studies used Neptune krill oil. Perhaps if krill oil really does lower CRP, it may work best in people whose CPR is “high.”
CPR is a marker used by some doctors as a measure of inflammation in the body. CPR is often elevated in sickness and in conditions like arthritis.
How much krill oil works?
It’s hard to say at the moment because there really aren’t a lot of big, well-done studies on krill oil (fish oil gets most of the attention). Based on what is currently known, to get the effects that studies have found, it looks like between 1-3 grams of krill oil per day might lower cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and blood sugar levels.
Lower amounts – around 300 mg per day might lower CPR levels. Because of a lack of good research on this issue, check with your doctor to see how much might be right for you.
Tip. Don’t look at the total amount of krill oil a supplement has. Look instead at how much EPA and DHA it contains. DHA and EPA is likely the main active ingredients in krill oil.
Can Krill Oil Build Muscle?
Here's a quick video outlining the evidence for krill oil having an anabolic effect on muscles
Watch on my Youtube channel if you prefer.
Krill oil or fish oil?
Right now, fish oil has a tremendous amount of medical research supporting its effects. Much less evidence exists for krill oil however what is currently known hints that krill oil may be a viable option for some.
For more on Fish oil read my Fish Oil Facts review.
There are not many krill oil vs. fish oil studies so far, which makes comparing them to each other difficult.
Krill oil does contain EPA and DHA (fish oils) which is likely the main reason for most of its effects. That said, some suggest that the combining of EPA, DHA and phospholipids in krill oil may make this supplement better than fish oil at modifying disease risk factors. Bottom line. this question needs better research before anyone can say for sure if krill oil is better than fish oil.
Tip. Fish oil breath? Having a fishy smell to your breath may be a sign your fish oil supplement is spoiled. Putting your fish oil supplements in the refrigerator might solve this problem by keeping them fresher, for a longer time.
Which krill oil brand is best?
From what I can tell, of the few studies conducted so far, Neptune Krill Oil (also called NKO Krill Oil) has most of the evidence. That doesn't mean other brands won’t work just as well. They probably would if they are quality made.
There are many brands of krill oil. For example, another popular brand you may have seen on TV is Mega Red Krill Oil by Schiff. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for the most up-to-date research on which krill oil brands is best.
Krill oil side effects
In healthy people, I don’t think krill oil is dangerous for most people. Krill oil does have an anti-coagulant effect (because it has EPA and DHA). As such, people who take blood thinner medications need to speak to their doctor before using krill oil supplements. Those allergic to shellfish should also consult their doctor first also.
If your doctor says “take fish oil supplements”, I wouldn’t switch to krill oil before you speak to him /her. If you do decide to switch, the best way to know for sure if krill oil really is working is to get a blood test before starting krill oil supplements and repeat the test in a month or so to see if anything has changed.
What do you think?
Has anyone report having headaches after taking Krill Oil??? It helped by back problems and knee stiffness, but I get a terrible headache at the base of my skull/neck when I take it.
Michael, some krill oil contains an antioxidant called canthaxanthin. This is the ingredient in “tanning” supplements – although it is more likely to turn your skin orange. Canthaxanthin is also given to flamingos to keep their plumage pink – possibly the answer to your pink urine.
I wonder if it could be a result of carotenoids. does the supplement say anything about alpha or beta carotene?
JT, to my knowledge krill oil has no alpha or beta carotene.
i am fairly certain Red Krill oil has made my urine pink in colour. am I imagining this? Is it a problem ? I am more agile
Michael, not sure. wonder if it may be an additive? Anybody else have pink urine from krill oil?
Hi Joe, does krill oil help with arthritis pain, i sure could use the help
Chuck.
Hi Chuck, The arthritis research is on a specific type called Neptune Krill oil. Here is Neptune Krill Oil on Amazon.
Im only aware of 1 study on this. Here is the study of krill oil on arthritis symptoms.
It looks like people took 300 mg per day and saw improvements in about a month. If you try it and it works, let me know.
Hi. I came across your site while investigating krill oil. Unlike other sites that may state they are unbiased, this one really does seem to be so. I am glad to have found a site such as this and will be adding your home page to my favorites and use it as needed. Thanks for your time on this.
Thanks Nita, I appreciate that and glad you were able to find me 🙂
Will krill oil help with lowering ferritin levels ?
Jo, Im not sure. I doubt it but get your iron levels tested first and then after a few weeks of using Krill oil. you’ll know by then if its working or not.
Hi Joe,
I popped over to this review from your review of “Supple” and glucosamine HCL/chondroitin sulfate. I noticed that in both reviews you mention that each ingredient (glucosamine HCL/chondroitin sulfate and krill oil) has a blood-thinning effect. That being said, would there be an issue with using these supplements together?
Thanks for this post!
design geek, its possible there would be a combined effect from glucosamine, chondroitin and krill oil. How much this would be an issue for people who are “healthy” I don’t know. My gut instinct is that it would not a be problem for most healthy people. For people who take medications, I’d run this by a doctor /pharmacist, just to be on the safe side.
Hi Joe
I just had my CRP levels drawn, results were negative. That made me feel good because it as well as Apo B,also within normal , are better indicators of inflammation which causes heart disease.
I take fish oil as well as 20 gms of Immunocal as day. Immunocal, which provides undenatured cysteine, is the precursor of Glutathione. GSH addresses inflammation. I got this information from…… Dr. Carlos Labarrere, MD, FACC, FAHA serves as Head of the Division of Experimental Pathology at the University of Indiana Health, located in Indianapolis, IN. He is a research scientist and heart surgeon and is an authority on cardiovascular health.
He has been published more than 150 times in the most prestigious peer review journals in the world (New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, JAMA, American Journal of Medicine and Circulation) on a variety of subjects related to cardiovascular research and health. Dr. Laberrere is also an accomplished Transplant Immunopathologist of 25 years.
In his talk he stated that everyone should take Immunocal, not only can it prevent deposit of Cholesterol it will reverse it. He says this is even more important for women as they present with heart disease symptoms well after the disease has established.
Not only that, their hearts are smaller than men and the vessels are too small to do bypass surgery or stents successfully. Women just die or end up with CHF and live on drugs.
He said he has been using the product Immunocal himself for over 3 years and has not even had a cold!
I also never get colds or the flu.?..I have been using it for 9 years.
Regards
Ellie
Hi Ellie, I’ll be looking at the research of Dr Labarrere when I review Immunocal. Is he affiliated with Immunocal in anyway?
Dear Joe
Have you looked at the research on Immunocal? Would love to hear back from you??.
Hi Ellie, not yet but its still on my list to look at.
Sorry, I confused you with rag tag research geeks! 🙂
Tracey, thats ok no harm done 🙂
Hi. When I looked at this article a week ago it was recommending “Red Whale Krill Oil” brand. Now you’re recommending a different brand?
Tracey, I did not recommend any specific type of krill oil in my review. You may have seen an ad for krill oil but that was not a recommendation by me. Sorry for the confusion if that is what happened.
where can i fine the krill oil in houston, tx. i would like to give it a try!
Katherine, any vitamin store should have it. Supermarkets might have it also. you can also get it on Amazon
The amount isn’t the same which is why there is a hypothesis that there is something else in Krill oil that’s not present in normal Fish Oil that’s working. If you look at the studies of Krill Oil and their the amounts of EPA and DHA you will notice they are getting the same effects of Fish Oil at a lower amount so you do NOT need to take the same amount.
I take both but put Krill Oil in a separate category since at this time its unknown what aside from EPA, DHA, and Astaxanthin is at work. It maybe that the Astaxanthin has a synergistic effect in combination with Omega 3-6-9 but I suspect there’s a missing element that has not yet been discovered since there hasn’t been enough studies on it yet.
I think both fish oil and krill oil are good — mainly for their EPA/DHA omega-3. Of course I knew of the benefit of fish oil way before I learned of krill oil. Ever since I have looked into krill oil, I have switch part of my fish oil to taking krill oil. So I now take both. The thing I like about krill oil is its astaxanthin. I think astaxanthin is a great antioxidant. Also krills are smaller than fish, and hence bio-accumulate less mercury. Understandably, a quality fish oil would have its mercury filtered out anyways.
One major difference that was not addressed (surprisingly) was the difference in volume of EPA and DHA between these two oils. Typical fish oil may have 300mg/capsule vs 75mg/capsule for krill oil (at least the Mega Red brand). Basically, unless I’m missing something, that means it takes 4 times as many krill oil tablets to get the same amount of EPA/DHA in one fish oil tablet. Watch your pocket book!
Paul, yes it does sound like you have have to take more krill oil to get the same benefit as fish oil. I will leave the door open a little because of some of the krill oil research. I do agree though that krill oil is more expensive.
Great article. I have been wondering about krill oil for a while now and how it compared to the well researched fish oil. I think I will give it a try for my arthritis at 1.5grams/day.
Cara, thanks if it works for you let me know.
The test you’re referencing is CRP, not CPR. It stands for “C-Reactive Protein.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-reactive_protein
oops!! LOL I goofed. Tim thanks for having such good eyesight! I had a dyslexic moment 🙂 I fixed my typo thanks for the heads up!!!
I will have to see what form my omega 3’s are coming from however, I know it has over 1000mg combined EPA/DHA in one softgel. This is one supplement that had a remarkable effect on the joint stiffness I was getting on a daily basis. I usually take 2 to 4 softgels daily.
As long as you are feeling the effects I’m glad Rick. That’s whats important!
One of the reasons Dr. Mercola recommends krill oil over fish oil is because the astaxanthin acts as a natural preservative and protects the oil from becoming rancid. Since rancid fish oil is bad for you and it is hard to ensure that the fish oil you buy is not rancid, it makes sense to buy krill oil for that reason alone.