MegaKrill and Food

• Generic Name: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Baciguent, Probiotic Formula, Proferrin-ES

MegaKrill is a form of krill oil that claims to be more potent or purer than regular krill oil. However, because supplements are unregulated, there is no guarantee that this holds true for all brands of MegaKrill.

Krill oil is extracted mainly from Antarctic krill, specifically a species called Euphausia superba. Krill are small shrimp-like crustaceans which represent an important dietary link in the global food chain, being the main staple of hundreds of different animals, including fish, birds, and whales. Harvesting of krill oil is not without controversy and studies have suggested Antarctic krill stocks have fallen by 80% since 1970, which is a serious cause for concern.

MegaKrill is a source of EPA and DHA omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but at a different ratio than fish oil. Krill oil has a ratio of 2:1 EPA to DHA, whereas fish oil has a ratio of 1:1 EPA to DHA. EPA is more effective than DHA at reducing cellular inflammation, and the more EPA in the diet, the less arachidonic acid there is available to produce proinflammatory cytokines such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

Unlike omega-3’s found in fish oil which are bound to triglycerides, the omega-3’s in krill oil are bound to phospholipids, which reportedly improve absorption by 30 to 100%. Research has not yet determined if this conveys more health effects. However, more effective absorption does appear to reduce the incidence of side effects such as a fishy after taste or fishy burps, a common complaint with fish oils.

Krill oil also contains astaxanthin, a brightly colored carotenoid (a pigment that conveys color) that occurs naturally in algae, shrimp, lobster, crab, wild salmon, and krill. Astaxanthin provides an interface between water and fats and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; although there have been few high-quality trials to test its benefits in people. Because it is so deeply colored, astaxanthin can make testing for contaminants or spoilage in krill oil difficult.