For a long time now, we’ve been getting questions about fish oil. What do we know about it? Can we recommend one?
Well, we did the research. A good bit of it in fact. And we found something a whole lot better: Krill Oil.
What’s so great about it? Why is it better than fish oil and how can you get the most effective krill oil supplement?
Krill Oil Basics
Krill are tiny little shrimplike crustaceans that live in the ocean. They make up the largest biomass on the planet and are found in every sea.. but the ones we’re concerned with are known as Euphausia Superba and live in the Southern Ocean off the coast of Antarctica.
Krill are full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which is why you would take a fish oil or krill oil supplement. But unlike fish oil (which has the Omega-3’s in the form of triglycerides) krill’s Omega-3’s are in the form of phospholipids. This difference in structure makes a world of difference to you as well.
Your cell membranes are made of phospholipids. Your body can absorb and assimiliate them twice as easily as the triglyceride forms of fish oil. Which means that you can take less krill oil than fish oil and get as much or better results – so krill oil is a much better value.
Krill oil also contains as much as 50X the antioxidant power of fish oil. This is largely due to the presence of astaxanthin, one of the most exciting and powerful antioxidants known and something fish oil just doesn’t have.
We’ll be publishing a lot more info on krill oil over the coming days. For now, you can see the product we found to be the best krill oil available here.
I just order black label krill oil, but I am allergic to shrimp… Now I would like to know if theirs similar product that would be safe for me?
How is the Krill oil obtained? Is there some sort of chemical process? What is it? thanks in advance
Hi. We have a 5 year old. It is recomended she take Krill Oil. If I give it to her what are your recomnedations for 5 year old?
I have seen some studies showing improvement in kids with ADHD and krill oil. It certainly stands to reason that krill oil would have the same improved (compared to fish oil) benefits for children that it has for adults. However, I’m not sure about what proper dosing would be. In general I’m very hesitant to make recommendations for children. I would suggest running it by their pediatrician before giving it to them, although I can’t think of any way it might be harmful – unless of course too much astaxanthin could be bad for brains that are still developing. But again, I am not as well researched when it comes to kids as I am adults – it might actually be better for developing brains, I’m just not certain. I’d suggest checking with a professional. Good luck!
Hi, I have been on Lexapro for depression and anxiety and recently saw an article from Dr Mercola regarding the link between SSRI’s and heart attack, strokes, and abnormal heart rhythms. Dr Mercola said that krill oil should be used as an alternative. As he has his own line of supplements and it benefits his pocket to make such statements, I am sceptical. Do you have any research that indicates krill oil use is an effective substitute for SSRI or other drugs for treating anxiety and depression?
Hi Jokrause! There have been several studies evidencing the beneficial effects that Omega-3’s have on depression. However, krill oil is new to that research table. More research specifically looking at krill oil’s effects on depression is necessary before any definitive answer can be given. We aren’t doctors here, so I would definitely suggest that you contact your own health care professional before substituting any of your medications with a dietary supplement. Thanks for the info!
I hope that was helpful”
Am very interested in your krill oil, however I cannot read the full contents on the label you have posted. Am very particular about the details of what I’m buying. Can you correct it?
Hey Sylvia! I completely understand. Being that thorough is a must in today’s market economy. Here’s the list of ingredients in the Black Label Krill Oil that we recommend:
Premium Plus Krill Oil Blend 1000mg
Phosphoilipids (with bonded omega-3s) 420mg
Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids 300mg
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 150mg
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 90mg
Astaxanthin Esterfied 2.5mg
Ingredients: 100% pure Euphausia superba Atlantic Krill Oil, Fish Oil (from one or more of the following species: Anchovy, Mackerel, Sardine, Herring, Tuna), Gelatin, Glycerin, Purified Water, Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil (derived from palm kernel oil), Heamatococcus pluvialis Astaxanthin Oleo Resin, and Plant Derived Antioxidants (mixed Tocopherols, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Rosemary extract).
Now, you can view the actual label on the aProvenProduct.com website. They should have a version that is easy for you to view. You can follow this link if you’d like:
http://www.aprovenproduct.com/products/view/blkrill
I hope this was helpful!
Hi Geek: I am confused. From your website: “Krill are tiny little shrimplike crustaceans.” Your ingredient lists fishies. Are you wringing krill out of them? Other products list ‘krill” as the ingredient. So,,, what’s the deal? thanks, g
Hey Gigi! Krill oil is almost exclusively krill, and contains no anchovies, mackerel, or whole fish oils. There are 1,000 MG of krill oil per each two soft-gel serving.
It is called a “blend” because we add fish oil molecules to get higher quality Omega-3’s, and because of the added astaxanthin. Certain fatty acids are removed from krill and replaced with higher quality fatty acids derived from fish. This is done on the molecular level. However, because those fatty acids are derived from fish, under FDA guidelines our label must include the fact that it does contain products derived from fish. This is an FDA safety law designed to protect those with extreme allergies to fish.
Hope that helps!
Thank you
hi, im having a 1g of krill oil supplement softgel a day with a table
spoon of.olive oil on empty stomach, will that make better absorption
of krill oil?
supplement facts are:
Neptune krill oil:1g
phospholipids:420mg
astaxanthin(estrified):0.75mg
Hi there Ahmed! Krill oils usually come in a blend with phospholipids and astaxanthin, both of which help with the absorption of the product. Typically, additional assistance in absorption isn’t necessary. This particular product you’re referring to does have a pretty small amount of astaxanthin, but the same will apply. Aside from that, there are plenty of studies suggesting great health benefits of extra-virgin olive oil, however, there are also studies contradicting this. It is true that there are definitely health benefits, but olive oil is a fat and is high on the calorie count.
Hope this helps!
thanks it’s very helpful.
Interested in red ______krill oil, but noticed it contains sorbitol on label?
Why does it contain sorbitol and isn’t that somewhat controversial?
Thank you!
Thanks for email on sorbitol
Hesitant, however, to buy product with artificial sweetners – if one sorta believes in the ” whole” food argument etc.
Is there another krill that you might recommend without artificial sweetners that is a close second to
Red_______krilloil?
Thanks again!
In addition to my second email why use sorbitol or sugar at all?
Thank you
Hi E. You may want to consider Longevity Neptune Krill Oil. It does not contain the same amount of phospholids or astaxanthin as the krill oil, but in so far as we know it does not contain Sorbital either.
I hope that helps.
Thanks you!
Thank you!
Hi E! That’s a great question. I checked with the manufacturer, and sorbitol is used as a thinning agent in order increase the phospholid content of the krill oil blend. Doing so increases the absorption rate of the omega 3s and the astaxanthin, but does require the use of a thinning agent. Sorbitol is used because it is a natural occurring substance as opposed to a synthetic compound.
I hope that helps!
Geek10
I currently take Nordic Naturals with the following ratio: 270 EPA/ 180 DHA/ 70 GLA . They are in the triglyceride form. If I started the Red w____ Krill Oil, would that be too much Omega 3’s ? Can you have TOO much Omega 3’s?
Also, why is it toxic to take blood thinners AND fish oil?
Thanks! This is a great site!
Hey Roxie. The Red Whale Krill Oil has 300 mg of Omega-3 per serving, so even with the Nordic Naturals supplement you’re well under the recommended maximum dose to be taken which was determined by the The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center “taking 3 grams or more of fish oil is not recommended unless you are under the care of a physician.” Taking over 3 grams of fish oil may increase your risk of bruising and nose bleeds because fish oil prevents blood from clotting. Omega-3’s ability to aid in the breakdown of blood clots is one of the reasons that it’s so good for your heart, but blood thinners also have a similar action so if you’re on both at the same time it can cause a person’s blood to become too thin.
i am B type blood. i am supposed to avoid shrimp. as the blood type book describes that type Bs should avoid all shellfish which they contain lectins that are disruptive to us, and also poorly digested. is the red whale krill oil okay for type Bs or should i continue with the cod liver oil?
Hi Woobie. In general, if a person should avoid shellfish then they are should steer clear of krill oil. That being said, we aren’t doctors, and I feel that the best advice I could offer would be to ask your healthcare professional as he would be in the best possible place to advise how something may affect your personal health.
I hope that helps.
Hi, I found your site while looking up the content of Dr. Pincus OMEGAKrill. Have you looked at his product, and how does it compare with Red Whale? I wasn’t able to determine by content label. Thank you for any assistance.
Hi Jerusha! It took some digging, but I was able to come up with the information for OMEGAkril. Even at a comparable dose to the Red Whale Krill (which the recommended dose is only half), the product still contains only half the Omega-3s of the Red Whale Krill Oil, which makes it much lower then most fish oils. It also lacks the Astaxanthin which is in Red Whale Krill Oil, which is important for overall health and can improve the positive effects the Omega 3s.
I hope that helps.
Thank you so very much!! Quite important details to know in making an informed decision. Mine is now made ” )
Hi there all,
I have a question. I currently use Vita Choice Krill Oil. It contains 860mg of phospholipids, 480mg of omega 3’s, 280mg of EPA, 130mg of DHA… but only 200mcg of astaxanthin.. if the astaxanthin is found in the phospholipids, and in this particular brand, there is a whopping 860mg’s, why is the amount of astaxanthin so low?
Is it better to have a higher amount of phospholipids, omega 3’s EPA & DHA) rather than a high amount of astaxanthin? I am a little confused. I am out of my Vita Choice and am wondering which brand to buy next. Thank you folks!
Sorry, one last question, if I am happy with the amount of phospholipids with this particular brand, is there a recommendation you have on where I can maybe buy the astaxanthin seperately since I have a high amount of pure products in this one? (phos, omega 3’s, etc)
Hi n655155x. Generally, BioAstin by Nutrex Hawaii is the best known and most liked brand of stand alone astaxanthin supplement.
I hope that helps
Hi n655155x. I can certainly understand your confusion. Part of the problem is that astaxanthin is not found in phospholids, but rather in some marine life. Generally, it’s only found in small amounts, and most krill oil products which contain astaxanthin in a high enough dose to be beneficial have been fortified with extra astaxanthin, and that’s the reason for so many different amounts in the different products.
As to which is better, phospholids and omega 3s or astaxanthin, ideally both, as Omega-3s and antioxidents have far reaching and complimentary benefits.
My best advice is that you should consult your doctor and see what he recommends for your specific health, as we aren’t doctors here.
so I went and purchased the aztaxanthin from nutrex-hawaii and I have a couple of questions that maybe you can or cant answer. First to go directly to the nutrex-hawaii site and purchase the astaxanthin cost substantially more than visiting other places that seem to have the exact same thing for less than half of what I paid…whats up with that? Is it really the same? Secondly after visiting this site, I would now like to purchase some Krill from the folks you recommend however I have the astaxanthin I just purchased so for time being what is the amount of fish oil I need to take to make the astaxanthin work properly?
Hi, Robin 322. It’s difficult to comment specifically on the product that you purchased from Nutrex-Hawaii as the company makes several different dosages of Astaxanthin. In Red W—- Krill oil, we have a ratio of 2.5mg astaxanthin to 1000mg of krill oil blend. Based on this formulation, you’d need to take 400 times more fish oil than astaxanthin. If you purchased the 4mg Nutrex-Hawaii astaxanthin, you’d need to take 1600mg of fish oil to replicate our krill oil product.
I hope this helps a bit. Best of luck to you!
Does that mean if I am taking a 12mg pill but only 1000 mg of fish oil then I am only absorbing 2.5 mg of the 12mg pill?
Hi Robin. Not exactly. Generally speaking, you need a high does of an omega 3 oil to help carry the astaxanthin. Most commercial products use a ratio of 400:1, but some use less. The reason for the confusion is that, when taking an astaxanthin supplement alone, the dosage is higher because it takes more astaxanthin without a carrier to help absorb it. So, you are taking a 12mg pill, and only abosorbing between 1.2mg to 2.4mg of it. My best advice would be to take a regular krill oil of a 1000mg to 1200mg strength, which while increase your absorption rate to about to about 5mg of astaxanin (maybe a little less due to the fact that they are being taking as separate supplements). Then once that runs out, replacement with a combination product such as Red ___ Krill Oil by APP.
Of course, we aren’t doctors here, so I also urge you consult a physician or naturopath before beginning any supplement regimen.
My husband takes 100 mg of metoprolol er succinate 2 times per day. I would like him to start taking krill oil 2 or 3 times per day. Is there a negative interaction with either krill or astaxanthin? I know you will say to check with my doctor, and I will but their answers are generally the same when it comes to supplements and I would like to know what knowledge you folks may have regarding this. Thanks!
Hi Robin322. As near as we can find, there are no known interactions with metoprolol and krill oil or astaxanthin. Additionally, none of the substances known to interact with meteoprolol are similar to either krill oil or astaxanthin. It should be noted, as metoprolol is a heart medication, that there is the possibility of blood thinning while on a krill oil. Blood thinners are not listed as an interaction for metoprolol. but I feel it does bear mentioning.
The above is not substitute for a conversation with your husband’s physician, though. We aren’t doctors here, and while we honestly report the things we find in drug and supplement papers and databases we do not have the years of personal experience with prescription medications that your physicians have.
I do hope that helps though!
Geek10
I began taking Red W Krill Oil about the beginning of September. I noticed some changes about the middle of October. Had been about 6 weeks…..strange sensation with my heart. Had an abnormal ECG on November 14th. Prior to this, I have never had any issues with my heart. 59 years old. Today, November 20th….will be my last day of using it. Glad to have internet access to find various issues concerning this. I have a cardiologist appointment on November 29th. I also take baby aspirin daily. We’ll see if it goes away after not taking the Krill Oil.
Hello William. I’m terribly sorry to hear about your problems. I gave the folks over at APP a call, and they don’t believe it is directly related to the Red Whale Krill Oil. It might be an interaction with something else, but even that would be odd considering the nature of krill oil.
Again, I am very sorry for your unfortunate problems.
What are the known side effects of red w—- krill oil?
Hi Mary. I haven’t heard of any specific “side effects”, but we do have some precautions to pass along. People taking blood thinners (anticoagulant or anti-platelet medication), such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) should only use krill oil under a physician’s supervision.
Krill oil should also be used with caution by people taking herbs and supplements that are thought to increase the risk of bleeding, such as ginkgo biloba and garlic.
I received my Red w—- Krill Oil and started taking 1 capsule per day and I will have diarrhea within 6 to 8 hrs. Please advise. Thanks, Mary
Hi Mary. We’re not doctors here at APY, but it sounds as though you might be mildly allergic to shellfish. I’d advise you to stop taking the Krill Oil and consult your physician.
I hope that helps!
I read one of your reviews the supposedly tested the leading brands of Krill oil and your conclusion was that Red Whale was your top pick. But you only said that it was tested by “Geeks” such as yourself and didn’t show any well known companies who do independent research. I was not surprised to see that you actually had a button were someone can go to a page that has this “Red w—- oil” for sale. Can you please explain to me how you came to the proven conclusion that this product is the best out of the ones you chose to write about?
Hi David. I believe the review you’re referencing is where we analyzed the product labels of several well-known krill oil brands. We also explained that there were three main manufacturers of krill oil, supplying most brands on the market. Our recommendation of Red w—- Krill Oil, manufactured by Azantis, was based on a label by label comparison. We found that other krill oil brands on the market did not contain enough EPA/DHA Omega-3s (at least 150MG/EPA and 90MG/DHA) or phosopholipids (at least 40%) and astaxanthin (at least 1.6 MG) necessary for an effective krill oil supplement. With Red w—- Krill Oil, Azantis has impressed us by putting together a premium krill oil blend that not only meets the EPA/DHA levels needed for effectiveness, but also packs more phospholipids and astaxanthin than any other brand we observed.
Additionally, we were impressed that independent studies confirmed the krill oil manufactured by Azantis had the lowest levels of TMAO – the hormone in saltwater creatures that is responsible for some omega-3 supplements having a fishy smell or inducing fish burps. Also, no Azantis manufactured brand tested positive for spoilage or low level ingredients, as Neptune products did in ConsumerLab’s independent testing.
Yes, we sent people to links to buy Red w—- Krill Oil, based on our recommendation, but more than anything, we want buyers to be informed when shopping for a krill oil supplement. We may feel Red w—- Krill Oil is the highest-quality krill oil brand on the market, but you can buy whatever krill supplement you want – just keep our findings in mind as you shop. Particularly the ingredients and levels. We feel that the brand-by-brand breakdown that we posted demonstrated that only Red w—- Krill Oil had all of the active ingredients, at the most desired levels, for the best chance of working and legitimately helping people. This was our conclusion. At this time, we aren’t aware of any well-known independent research companies that have reviewed or tested Red w—- Krill Oil, alongside other brands, to cite as a reference or further confirm our findings and conclusion.
Red Wale Krill Oil has 2.5 mg of astaxanthin. I am taking a produce that meets your requirements for EPA & DHA, but has 1.6 mg of astaxanthin. What is the beneficial difference of an additional 0.9 mg of astaxanthin?
Hi rsurpren. To answer your question, if you are paying to take a quality krill oil, shouldn’t you get the most benefit for your money?
Quality krill should be a minimum of 40% phospholipids. From what you say, the product you are taking offers you that. Super!
Astaxanthin is the other main reason for krill oil’s amazing health benefits. Because you clearly care about your health, you would want to take the best product at the best dosage. There are a lot of reasons that astaxanthin is a really good thing. Here’s a very informative article that details all the information on astaxanthin. Enjoy! http://aprovenyou.com/wp/?s=astaxanthin
does krill oil have mercury like fish oil?
Hi Carol. Interestingly enough, krill are very picky eaters. Their primary food source is phytoplankton. This is why they are free of almost all impurities (including mercury). Thanks for asking!
Here’s an interesting little tidbit. Did you know that without krill, endangered species such as whales and penguins might cease to exist!
I’ve taken the krill oil from Dr. Mercola’s website in the past, and found two problems with it. One, the capsules often leak not only creating a gooey mess in the bottle, but also reducing the number of viable capsules resulting in wasted money; and secondly they often repeat on me which leaves me nauseous. Have you had any comments about these issues also occurring with the Red Whale product?
Hi Donna. I am not personally familiar with Dr. Mercola’s product, but this sounds like a case of getting what you pay for. I take the Red w—- Krill Oil and I have not had any issue with my softgels that a little shake of the bottle wouldn’t cure.
I see that Krill Oil Plus, a product I am considering, has Astaxanthin, one of a group of natural pigments known as xanthophylls. Can you tell me how likely is this pigment to have an effect of skin color or the color of scars on people of color.
Hi ricurbina. You are correct, Astaxanthin is part of a group of naturally occuring pigments called carotinoids. Beta-Carotene is also in this group, but Astaxanthin has shown itself to be the superior antioxidant. Astaxanthin is how lobsters get their red coloration, but I have been unable to locate any medical study that comments on skin color change in human beings. New studies are being done every day, so keep checking!
Hi there, first time I have come across aprovenyou.com, fascinating reading! I refer to the comment from madmax5556 of Feb 13, 2012. I did not see a response to his question about the blended mix of 1000mg krill oil. Could you tell me what percentage of the mix is actual krill oil? EPA and DHA is also available from everyday fish oil, but I had hoped the red whale krill would have been 100% krill oil thereby getting the EPA/DHA from the real mccoy and not from a combination of krill and other fish. Look forward to your response.
Hi Ausles! Our Krill Oil Blend contains at least 42% Antarctic krill oil phospholipids with bonded krill omega-3, and at least 25% combined EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). More than half of the EPA and DHA come from krill, and most of these omega-3 fatty acids are bonded to the krill phospholipids.
The objective of the blend is to combine the key differentiator in krill, the omega-3 phospholipids, with high omega-3 triglyceride concentrates while also achieving therapeutic astaxanthin levels. Our signature grade contains everything that a pure krill oil has, plus more astaxanthin, plus more omega-3. I hope that helps! Now, off to find the comment I missed from poor, patient, madmax5556! 🙂
Can anyone give good info on Purity Products? Are they good or bad? I have only been able to find negative comments on their customer service & business practices.
I went on quite a few search engines under “Purity Products reviews” and was alarmed and the plethora of customer service complaints. Upon reviewing the products a little (Natural ingredients, prices, etc.), I found that the products weren’t bad but they add a lot of unnecessary filler, flavorings, unnatural additives and ingredients to quite a few products. The products were not great, but of average quality. Reviews under their home site praised the products, and I did like the label information was very specific, but the more I kept digging, the more issues and complaints I found with customer service. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care how great the quality is, If I can’t reach someone when I need help, I’m staying far away.
what’s the ‘standard’ dose of krill oil?
Hi shewl721. The standard dose varies, but a blend is always better then Krill alone. The recommended dosage of Krill oil is 1,000 MG. Less than that isn’t a bad thing, as long as the percentages of other ingredients is uniform. In most cases, smaller serving size hides lower quality and allows for a cheaper product. You also want to include Omega-3′s, phospholipids, (how much of your Omega-3′s are in phospholipid form is also very important, it’s this form that makes the Omega-3′s in Krill Oil better than those in fish oil.) EPA and DHA, and most importantly-Astaxanthin: The super-antioxidant that sets Krill Oil apart from fish oil. The higher the number here also the better.
Is there any merit to the recent claims about Calamari Oil as the best source of phospholipids and astaxanthin?
Hi Philadam. Good question! As far as we’re concerned, there really is not enough science on calarmari oil to make a claim like that. In the future, after more research has been compiled, we may change our minds, but we prefer to stand behind fully researched products.
Hi Philadam. No, I would not say that. Calamari Oil is a standalone astaxanthin supplement. It doesn’t have any phospholipids to make it more bioavailable.
So, you would not only get better absorption from astaxanthin in Red Whale Krill oil because of the phospholipids, but you would also get the Omega 3’s.
I am allergic to shell fish and have ordered the krill oil. Do I have a reason to be concerned about a possible reaction to the krill oil.
Yes you do. You need to contact the company you purchased from as you won’t be able to take krill oil. If you purchased Red Whale from one of the companies we recommend you shouldn’t have any trouble returning it and getting a refund. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
Thank you. Can I find Astaxathin and then add it to my fish oil for improved benefits?
Well that’s actually not a bad idea. The main benefit to krill oil is the phospholipid content, which makes the Omega-3’s more bioavailable. So you’ll need to take a higher dose of fish oil to get the same benefits. Then the best source of astaxanthin is going to be from hoematococcus algae – so look for that on the label.
Thank you for your input
To Geek1:
Thank you for the info
I recently purchased a bottle of Red w—- krill oil and noticed it’s actually a krill and fish oil blend. I was wondering what ratio of krill oil to the fish oil was and if the fish oil was toxin free?
thank you,
Steve
Sorry I replied to the other comment, but forgot to address the toxin question. Yes, Red Whale is independently screened for toxins before being encapsulated and it is toxin free.
Really it has fish oil?? Sounds like a shady way to boost the numbers on the label
Actually, red whale krill oil is a blend, this is true, but it does not contain fish oil. What it contains is fatty acid molecules derived from fish. That is what “fish oil extract” (on the label) means. I hope that helps!
I read your post, and thought I may be able to shed some light, but I am Not an expert,I do know that when you have reactions like this with supplements, more often than not it could be an underlying condition that is giving you warning signs or it could simply mean that you taking too much of something for what your body needs. Being proactive is essential but you need to know what your dealing with first. If you have a way to talk to your doctor about the symptoms, and urge them to take some tests, this is extremely advisable. Many times all you need to do is make lifestyle changes and dietary changes that will aid your body into health again, then taking supplements will help more. However, now a day, many people take supplements just to take them, which is a big mistake. This causes confusion on what actually works for what condition and for whom. If I may suggest you get some tests done on your cardiovascular system and go from there. If you are going to take supplements, you should consult with a Professional for same. Good Luck, and best of health to you.
I started taking a Krill oil daily and ended up with heart palpitacions is this a common problem? I had the same problem but not as bad with CoQ10?
It’s not a common problem, but everyone reacts differently to natural products. Have you run this by your doctor? We’d probably suggest you stop taking your krill oil until you can do so. He/She may be able to give you some insight. Some heart palpitations can be stress – I personally had a bout of them when my Grandfather was about to pass away, and even wore the halter monitor overnight. The cardiologist was not concerned once they saw my results. That being said, they can also be serious so be sure and find out before you continue taking the krill oil.