Krill oil is an amazing alternative to fish oil supplements. But just like fish oil, there are so many different options on the market. It can become a confusing process trying to sift through the masses of brands. To help narrow it down for you a little and give you a benchmark to compare with, we’ve analyzed one of the best krill oil supplements on the market – KrillMD.
KrillMD Review
Our Summary: 4.7/5 
“The gold standard in krill oil supplements. Formulated by doctors with market leading levels of EPH, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin. Clearly the most potent krill oil supplement in the market today”
Things to consider before buying KrillMD
If you’re someone who’s looking for a healthy fat source that fights inflammation, reduces joint pain and safeguards your heart health then KrillMD might be the right product for you.
Here’s a few quick benefits krill oil can provide:
- Lowers cholesterol and blood fat (triglycerides)
- Decreases inflammation throughout the body
- Helps manage symptoms of PMS
- Reduces arthritis/joint pain
- Fights cancer cells
- Protects against heart disease/stroke
- Combats high blood pressure
- Improves brain function
Who shouldn’t be taking a krill oil supplement?
As with any new supplement, it’s best to have a chat to your doctor to see if it’s right for you before you try it out.
With krill oil, this is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, individuals with bleeding disorders, diabetes, obesity, seafood allergies or if you’re scheduled to undergo surgery in the near future (as krill oil can slow blood clotting).
Some minor side effects of krill oil include an upset stomach, decreased appetite, heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea and heartburn for those who are intolerant to it.
KrillMD – An in-depth review
As promised, we’re going to break down and analyze each component of KrillMD. Hopefully after reading this you can identify whether this product is right for you. You should also be able to see how it compares to other leading krill oil supplements in the market.
Who are 1MD?
1MD is Located at 14900 Ventura Blvd #310 Sherman Oaks, CA. This company is focused on creating high-quality health supplements that are formulated, tested and re-tested by board-certified doctors before hitting the shelves. They are an A- accredited business with the Better Business Bureau.
1MD spends time sourcing the highest quality ingredients and even offer a 100% money back guarantee on all products if you’re not satisfied within the first 90 days. This is a good indicator of the confidence they have in what they’re producing.
What makes KrillMD great?
1MD have unleashed their new and improved krill oil onto the market. All krill in this product are sourced straight from the pristine waters of the Antarctic for a sustainable and pure hit of omega-3 (essential fatty acids).
1MD has also increased their astaxanthin content. This is a powerful antioxidant that ensures your krill oil will be in top condition when you purchase it. They also introduced their ‘Multi-Stage Oil’ extraction technology to increase the absorption of their krill oil.
Here’s a quick list of this product’s best and worst features, take a look below because we’re going to dive right into each point in detail.
PRO’S
- Highest levels of EPA, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin on the market
- Meets and exceeds recommended daily minimum krill oil intake
- 90 day money-back guarantee
- Lemon coating on capsules
- Added technology to boost absorption
- No unnecessary fillers
- Surveys completed to back their claims and show results from real users
CON’S
- Expensive
Highest levels of omega-3 and no fillers
Let’s crunch the numbers first. Per serving (2 softgels) 1MD Krill Oil Platinum provides:
- 1600 mg of krill oil (400 mg more than the daily recommended minimum)
- 320 total omega-3’s
- 174 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
- 120 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
- 2 mg of astaxanthin
- 550 mg of phospholipids
Omega-3 fatty acids are unable to be produced naturally within the body but are actually essential for human health. Omega-3 is made up of 3 acids; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (less beneficial than the first two).
These beneficial fatty acids are stored as phospholipids in krill oil which are thought to be absorbed easier by the body than triglycerides in fish oil. To get enough omega-3 in your diet you would have to eat 8 ounces of fish a week which just isn’t realistic for some people, so 1MD Krill Oil Platinum makes it easy.
The only other ingredients in this product are gelatin, vegetable glycerin, purified water and natural lemon oil for a nicer flavour. So this krill oil is about as pure as it gets when looking at its competitors.
We’ve also compared the levels of omega-3’s, astaxanthin, phospholipids and krill oil per serving against 1MD’s top krill oil competitors and can see that it has the highest amounts on the market right now by a significant amount.
Lemon-coated softgels
Whilst fish oil tends to give you those nasty fish burps after you consume them, krill oil generally doesn’t have the same issue. Regardless, 1MD has decided to coat their softgels in a natural lemon flavour to make it impossible for you to get any kind of unpleasant aftertaste, well, that is if you like the taste of zesty, fresh lemons – and who doesn’t? And there’s absolutely no harm done with adding this flavour to the supplement because it’s natural. This means you’re not putting anything toxic or artificial into your body.
Boosted absorption
This krill oil from 1MD contains an awesome 550 mg of phospholipids – molecules which actually line themselves up with your cells to allow more efficient absorption of your omega-3’s. More research is needed to confirm, but some tests comparing fish and krill oil have leant towards krill oil being the slightly better of the two in this regard (tested on rats).
If this wasn’t enough, the company has decided to take it one step further and add in their ‘Multi-Stage Oil’ cold-press extraction technology that they claim boosts the bio-availability of the krill oil to add to its absorption rates. So whilst you were already guaranteed the top absorption on the market right now due to the high phospholipid count, you’ve also gotten a boost on top of that. A great bonus any way you look at it.
Price
With quality comes cost though, and this product is no exception. A bottle of 1MD Antarctic Krill Oil Platinum will set you back around $65 on Amazon for a month’s supply, which is around double the price of its competitors.
This may be a deterrent for some users but it’s important to bear in mind that this product is a leader in its market and delivers on quality to drive maximum health results. We did however manage to find a cheaper price on the 1MD website.
You can click below for the best price as of June 2020 (as low as $37 per bottle).
Best price on 1MD.org
90-day money back guarantee
Almost sounds too good to be true, right? Well, you’d best believe it because 1MD “stands behind every product we offer” and will refund your money if you’re not completely satisfied with their product after 3 months of using it consistently.
As mentioned earlier, this demonstrates a huge confidence in their product, and it’s not something that a lot of companies will offer. This is a product that you can try risk-free and love it or get your money back, you’ve got nothing to lose.
Survey results from users
1MD has taken the time to survey its users back in December 2016. A huge 89% of users reported improved joint health and 84% reported having better mental performance. From the results, you can see that this krill oil is definitely living up to it’s promise of lubricating joints, reducing inflammation and improving cognitive function.
So what are the KrillMD customers saying?
It’s all well and good to read what 1MD claim about their own product, but it’s a smart move to do your own research into real users and their experiences with a product before you consider giving it a try. We’ve dug deep into the world wide web to make sure we’re finding all the relevant reviews for you to make things easier, here’s the results:
Possible quality control issues
Quite a few users have reported that when they open up this product, the capsules inside have burst or the smell has been overwhelmingly fishy, causing them to send the bottle back. This suggests that 1MD may have a quality control issue currently. Luckily, they have a 90 day money back guarantee to take advantage of in the unfortunate case that a user receives a less than perfect bottle of krill oil.
Cholesterol reduction
Users have reported that they’ve seen their bad cholesterol levels reduce after taking this supplement consistently, which is a key benefit of krill oil.
Memory and brain function
One user started taking this supplement after he underwent brain surgery for epilepsy and recounts how doctors commented he was doing better than ever after his most recent tests. Other users mention their memory function has improved, another very important krill oil benefit.
Alternatives to KrillMD
Here’s a quick look at the other leading krill oils on the market so you can see how they stack up next to 1MD Krill Oil Platinum.
#1 Viva Naturals Premium Antarctic Krill Oil
Hits the right targets
Each serving of this product (2 capsules) will deliver 1250mg of krill oil into your body, exceeding the daily recommended minimum by 50mg. In this, you’ll get 165mg EPA, 95mg DHA, 500mg of phospholipids and 1.6mg astaxanthin. These are great stats and only just fall short of the amount that 1MD Krill Oil Platinum provides.
Great price
If KrillMD is a bit out of your price range right now, this product comes in at under $30 for a month’s worth of krill oil. This is a great price for a good quality krill supplement. If you’re on a budget, be sure to check this product out.
Price: (360 capsules) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 1250 mg krill oil per serving of 2 capsules (165mg EPA, 95mg DHA and 1.6mg astaxanthin)
- Easy to swallow capsules
- Included technology to avoid fishy burps/aftertaste
- 500 mg of phospholipids per serving
- Ecologically sustainable practices
CON’S
- Capsules have been reported to burst and leak sometimes
- EPA, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin levels aren’t as high as 1MD Krill Oil Platinum
#2 Sports Research – Antarctic Krill Oil (Double Strength)
One softgel a day
This krill oil from Sports Research boasts their one capsule a day advantage whilst still maintaining great levels of EPA, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin respectively. At 1000mg of krill oil per softgel it does mean you’ll fall a bit short of the daily recommended minimum but this might be something you don’t have to worry about if you feel you’re making up the omega-3 intake in your diet.
90 day money back guarantee
Just like 1MD Krill Oil Platinum, this product comes with a handy money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the product. This shows that Sports Research has faith in their product’s quality. And at just under $30 for a two month supply, this is a bargain.
Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 1 softgel (128mg EPA, 60mg DHA, 400mg phospholipids and 1mg astaxanthin)
- Once softgel a day
- Money back guarantee
- Sustainably sourced
CON’S
- EPA, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin levels aren’t as high as 1MD Krill Oil Platinum
- Falls a bit short of daily recommendation for krill oil intake
#3 Pure Label Nutrition Krill Oil
Pure – like the label says
Pure Label Nutrition guarantees their product is 100% purified plus mercury, GMO, gluten and solvent free so you can be sure you’re not getting any unnecessary nasties with your krill oil supplement. This is extremely important when it comes to something you’re putting in your body everyday.
Lacking in astaxanthin and phospholipids
These two ingredients are important to keep your krill oil fresh and to increase absorption of the omega-3 respectively. This product certainly doesn’t contain as much of either as it should but does have solid amounts of DHA and EPA content to consider.
Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (120mg EPA, 80mg DHA, 200mg phospholipids and 0.2mg astaxanthin)
- Guaranteed high quality
- Money back guarantee
- Affordable
CON’S
- EPA, DHA, phospholipids and astaxanthin levels aren’t as high as 1MD Krill Oil Platinum
- Falls a bit short of daily recommendation for krill oil intake
- Less astaxanthin and phospholipids than other brands
- Users reported slightly fishy smell when opening bottle
Conclusion
From improving heart and brain health to reducing inflammation and assisting with joint problems,krill oil is an amazing, natural and ecologically sustainable resource that we can easily reap the benefits of. KrillMD is one of the leading products on the krill oil market right now, which you’ve seen explained in detail above.
If you’re wanting to give it a go and start experiencing the myriad of benefits that a high quality krill oil supplement can provide, you can click below for the best price as of June 2020.
Best price on 1MD
If you’re still not sure, below is some general information on krill oil and its benefits.
What are krill?
Krill are tiny crustaceans that look like shrimp and thrive in the coldest oceans of the world. These critters are only about 10mm-20mm in size and, despite their size, are the perfect food for sea mammals like penguins, seals and even whales.
You won’t need to worry about taking away food from the ecosystem, krill actually make up one of the largest biomasses on Earth. At an estimated amount of 600 million tonnes, they are an ecologically sustainable resource – so no harm is done to their environment when they are harvested.
Optimally, krill that are harvested for quality krill oil supplements will be sourced from the pristine waters of the Antarctic and will be the species Euphausia superba. Krill generally live around an average of 6 years, so this fact coupled with their super clean habitat means that they are exposed to less mercury and toxins when compared to the majority of fish that go into making fish oil.
How can a krill oil supplement benefit me?
So why do we need krill oil? The main reason krill oil is consumed is the same reason fish oil is recommended as a daily supplement, and that’s omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are unable to be produced naturally within the body but are actually essential for human health. To get enough omega-3 in your diet you would have to eat 8 ounces of fish a week which just isn’t realistic for some people, so krill oil supplements provide an easier way to get enough into your diet.
So what is omega-3?
Omega-3 is made up of 3 acids; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (less beneficial than the first two). These beneficial fatty acids are stored as phospholipids in krill oil which are thought to be absorbed easier by the body than triglycerides in fish oil.
Here’s just a few of the benefits a quality krill oil supplement can provide:
1. Easily absorbed for maximum benefit
As mentioned just now, phospholipids allow your omega-3 fatty acids to be absorbed easier as they actually line themselves up with your cells for more efficient absorption. More research is needed to confirm this, but some tests comparing fish and krill oil have leant towards krill oil being the slightly better of the two in this regard (tested on rats).
2. Reduces and prevents excessive inflammation
Omega-3 converts itself into eicosanoids which is a signalling molecule that tells your body to release more anti-inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins, calming unnecessary inflammation in the body.
3. Maintain brain health and alleviates mental disorders
Your brain tissue is actually made up of 60% DHA, so consuming a krill oil supplement daily will mean your brain function is improved. The other two fatty acids that make up omega-3’s will help keep the electrical pulses sent from your brain to the rest of your body functioning correctly. This trio can help alleviate some mental disorders like depression, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.
4. Lowers cholesterol
A study was conducted over 12 weeks in which the subjects were given krill oil everyday, their cholesterol was monitored and showed a 13%-18% reduction in by the end of the trial. Omega-3’s are well-known for lowering bad cholesterol levels, increasing good cholesterol and reducing triglycerides in your body resulting in an overall reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.
5. Reduces PMS
Omega-3 fights to reduce inflammation but also balances hormones and alleviates fatigue and mood swings due to it’s lubrication of the brain.
6. Contains astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that isn’t usually found in fish oil, however, krill oil does contain it. Astaxanthin uses its antioxidant super powers to ensure efficiency by protecting EPA and DHA from oxidising and losing their potency.
7. Alleviates symptoms of autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases like lupus, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis are where your body mistakes normal cells for harmful ones and starts attacking them. They are very difficult to treat and can be life-threatening but omega-3’s have been shown to alleviate symptoms.
8. Reduces cancer cells
Omega-3 affects some cancer cells, especially those associated with hormonal cancers and colorectal cancer, by slowing down and even reversing their growth.
This list is extensive and exciting, but it doesn’t cover everything krill oil can do. Among other things, it can also help with issues like dry eyes, preventing obesity by reducing hunger and even preventing the development of neurological disorders in children when given to pregnant mothers.
As with any new supplement, it’s best to have a chat to your doctor to see if it’s right for you. This is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, individuals with bleeding disorders, diabetes, obesity, seafood allergies or if you’re scheduled to undergo surgery. Some minor side effects of krill oil include an upset stomach, decreased appetite, heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea and heartburn for those who are intolerant to it.
Tips and tricks for purchasing the best krill oil supplement
- Know your krills’ origin – You only want krill that’s been sustainably harvested from Antarctica, don’t settle for anything less.
- Omega-3 content – The daily recommendation is 1200 mg and never exceeding 2000mg. Your chosen supplement should specify how much it contains and show a breakdown of how much EPA, DHA and astaxanthin it contains.
- One serving a day – Whether this is a couple capsules or just one, make sure you can get your krill oil needs in one serving a day to keep things simple.
- Phospholipids – The more phospholipids in the supplement, the better it will be absorbed.
- Unnecessary toxins, chemicals and additives – Take a careful look at the ingredients list to find out if there are any nasties that you don’t want in your supplement. The best brands won’t use any fillers to bulk out their capsules.
Adele Taylor
Writer, Product Tester.
Adele is a budding content writer with a passion for all things health and fitness related. In her time off Adele enjoys reading, travelling and exploring Sydney’s culinary delights.
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