Fish or Krill: What’s the Best Pill for Omega-3?

A physician friend of mine asked me about krill oil as a source of omega-3 fats for her patients.  You may be wondering if it’s right for you too. Krill oil comes from krill, very small crustaceans from the sea  (think family of shrimp and scallops) and it’s processed into a gel capsule. Krill are a nice source of omega-3 fats called DHA and EPA, two that promote brain and heart health. Omega-3 fats are also known to help reduce inflammation in the body.

Krill oil is touted to be superior to fish oil but is it really?

The Promise: Your body better absorbs omega-3 fats from krill oil than omega 3 from other fish; so supposedly you would need less krill oil if it is better absorbed.

The Reality: You would need to take more krill oil pills daily, as the amount of DHA and EPA in single krill oil capsule is typically lower than other fish pills, regardless of absorption.

Hard to catch, krill is pricy and may be a sustainability issue since whales and other marine animals live on it. Krill oil does contain the antioxidant astaxanthin (animal’s red color) but  in micro amounts.

As a foodie, the most important take away is that supplements are fine particularly if you are allergic to fish.  But supplements can increase blood thinning and slightly lower blood pressure, so if you take blood thinner, check with your health care professional. Think about getting your omega-3s from what you eat. It’s much easier to enjoy fatty fish like salmon, tuna or sardines  twice a week.

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