There seems to be a lot of commercial advertising promoting the supplementation of krill oil and whether or not it’s “better” than fish oil. I get asked a lot of questions in practice regarding nutritional supplements, so thought I’d share my findings and thoughts this topic.
A common question our chiropractors get asked is, “what is the difference between fish oil and krill oil? and is one better than the other?”
Below is an overview explaining the differences and highlighting the benefits of each:
Both Fish and Krill oil are high in essential fatty acids. They are classified as essential because our bodies are unable to produce them, instead gaining these nutrients from the foods we consume.
There are two key types of fatty acids. Omega-3s and Omega-6s. They are both long chained polyunsaturated fatty acids which are pivotal for the development, maintenance and everyday functioning of the body.
Fish oil
Fish oils differ greatly in both quality and price. A good quality fish oil undergoes a purification process to remove contaminates. This process is the reason why better quality fish oils are more expensive, as the manufacturing process involves filtration, molecular distillation and testing – leaving the product around 1,000 times more pure than inferior grade fish oils.
Krill oil
Krill oil is a newer and less common essential fatty acid. There is a lot of confusion as to whether it is more superior than fish oil due to the way it is marketed and advertised by manufacturers. Like fish oil, it also contains high levels of Omega-3s and Omega-6s. The differentiating factors between fish and krill oil is the presence of a nutrient which is found in the Vitamin B class called choline.
So which do we recommend?
We recommend both!
Most importantly though, is making sure you buy a high quality supplement.
There are multiple fish and krill oils on the market with significant differences in quality- even to the point where you can buy 1000 tablets in a canister.
At our practice we only stock Metagenics MetaPure EPA/DHA. This fish oil satisfies our strict criteria for being as a highly purified and concentrated fish oil.
This specific brand and formula of fish oil has also been shown to:
- Offer temporarily relieve the pain and inflammation from mild arthritis and improve mood and cognition.
- Maintain healthy triglyceride levels and cardiovascular function.
Our chiropractors are able to advise you on the range of high quality supplements we stock and answer any questions on their suitability and benefits.
To make an appointment, please either book online via our website, or call our friendly staff.
Sims & Finn Chiropractic
52 Stud Road, Dandenong 3175
@simsfinnchiropractic
References:
- Ulven, S. M., Kirkhus, B., Lamglait, A., Basu, S., Elind, E., Haider, T., Berge, K., Vik, H., & Pedersen, J. I. (2011). Metabolic effects of krill oil are essentially similar to those of fish oil but at lower dose of EPA and DHA, in healthy volunteers. Lipids, 46(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-010-3490-4
- Schuchardt JP, Schneider I, Meyer H, Neubronner J, von Schacky C, Hahn A. Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations–a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2011;10:145. Published 2011 Aug 22. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-10-145
- Couet C, Delarue J, Ritz P, Antoine JM, Lamisse F. Effect of dietary fish oil on body fat mass and basal fat oxidation in healthy adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997;21(8):637-643. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0800451
- Makrides M, Gibson RA, McPhee AJ, et al. Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression and neurodevelopment of young children: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010;304(15):1675-1683. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1507