The 10 Best Krill Oil Supplements in 2018

Looking to sharpen your brain, lower your cholesterol or improve your skin? These are just a few of the many benefits acclaimed by Krill Oil. Dubbed the new “Ocean Superfood” this unique supplement is gaining widespread popularity around the world…and for good reason.

What is krill oil?

Krill are tiny, shrimp-looking crustaceans that live in the oceans of the world, they’re only about 10mm-20mm in size. They are food for larger sea mammals like penguins, whales and seals.

Generally, krill used for krill oil are harvested from the freezing, pristine Antarctic waters. Harvesting them from here coupled with krill having a short lifespan, means there’s much less chance they will be carrying mercury and toxins inside their tiny bodies – just one of the advantages that krill oil has over fish oil.

The species of krill mostly used for krill oil are called Euphausia superba and krill all over the world actually make up one of the largest biomasses on this earth, at an estimated 600 million tonnes. So, as this research article mentions, they’re an ecologically sustainable resource.

What can a krill oil supplement do for my health?

Krill oil is a supplement that provides your body with omega-3 fatty acids. Krill possess such high amounts of these acids because they feed on algae, which is a natural source of omega-3.

Your body is actually unable to produce these fatty acids on its own but they are paradoxically essential for human health, so it’s a great idea to think about introducing a supplement to your life if you’re not getting enough omega-3 in your diet naturally (around 8 ounces of fish a week).

What does Krill Oil Contain?

The health benefits of krill oil are mainly down to the following key-components:

Highly concentrated Polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids

These assist with the prevention and treatment of heart disease as well as inflammation and other related health issues.

Antioxidants in the form of carotenoids

Astaxanthin (a particular carotenoid), provides substantial antioxidant properties that help to prevent liver damage. In addition it can provide protection against ultraviolet light and UV-induced skin damage.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in reproduction, bone growth, and immune system health. It is also essential to healthy vision and good skin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage and also helps to lower cholesterol

Phosphatidylcholine

In order for fish oil to be utilised by the body, your liver has to attach it to phosphatidylcholine. Krill oil naturally contains phosphatidylcholine.

So what is omega-3?

Well, you’ve got docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the less beneficial alpha-linolenic acid. These acids help with everything from mental health right through to fighting chronic inflammation, but most importantly omega-3 lowers your cholesterol and risk of heart disease.

The great thing about krill oil is that these fatty acids are stored as phospholipids, as opposed to fish oil where they’re stored as triglycerides (more on this later). Phospholipids are thought to be more easily absorbed by the human body, however more studies need to be conducted on this before it can be confirmed.

Here’s a few of the benefits some of the best krill oil supplements can provide:

Easier to absorb than fish oil

As mentioned above, krill oil actually comes in the form of a phospholipid which is a molecule that is made up of two fatty acids, a phosphate group and one glycerol molecule.

All this basically means that these lipids like to line themselves up neatly with your cell membranes and therefore can be absorbed easily.

More research is needed to confirm this fact, but the triglycerides that fish oil’s fatty acids are stored in may not be absorbed as easily into the body. At this time, both fish oil and krill oil have been shown to work as well as each other, with some tests giving this result and others leaning towards krill oil.

Reduces and prevents inflammation

Inflammation is important because it’s our body’s way of fighting off infections and healing wounds. However, not all inflammation is necessary and when it becomes chronic inflammation, you might need a helping hand to calm things down. Omega-3 in krill oil is able to be converted into eicosanoids – signalling molecules that tell your body to release anti-inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins.

Can help fight mental disorders

DHA makes up around 60% of your total brain tissue. A krill oil supplement will help to lubricate it and allow greater cognitive function. In addition the other fatty acids will help with submitting the electrical pulses that your brain uses to communicate with the rest of your body.

Keeping your brain in top health with consistent omega-3 can help with these disorders:

• Schizophrenia
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Alzheimer’s

Lowers cholesterol to improve cardiovascular health

This is an important one and the most highly known benefit of krill oil. Omega-3 acids are known to assist with lowering bad cholesterol levels, increasing good cholesterol and reducing triglycerides in your body.

As this article details, a study conducted over 12 weeks where the subjects were given krill oil everyday showed a 13%-18% reduction in cholesterol. So your overall cardiovascular health is going to be greatly improved when introducing a krill oil supplement into your diet.

Krill oil will also reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and insulin resistance in diabetic individuals.

Reduces PMS Symptoms

Because omega-3 reduces inflammation, keeps hormones in balance and combats fatigue and mood-related issues, taking a krill oil supplement may help you around that dreaded time of the month if you suffer from bad PMS.

Contains the antioxidant astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant found in krill oil that generally isn’t found in fish oil and protects EPA and DHA from oxidising and losing their potency. As the levels are so low, you won’t get the normal antioxidant benefits from it, but your krill oil’s fatty acids will be protected and optimised when working throughout your body.

Fights autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are those where your immune system starts attacking normal cells because it mistakes them for nasty, harmful ones. Diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and more are often very hard to treat but omega-3 has been linked to alleviating their symptoms.

Liver repair

Research suggests phosphatidylcholines found in Krill Oil, may have a healing effect on liver cells, and thus encourage liver repair.

Reduces cancer cells

Some cancer cells will actually respond to omega-3 by slowing and even reversing their growth. This has been found in research to mostly affect hormonal cancers and colorectal cancer. Because of these findings, being consistent with your krill oil may help to prevent cancer.

Fetal brain development

For pregnant women, Krill Oil is good for two reasons:

Firstly, there is very little risk of heavy metal contamination. This is due to Krill being at the bottom of the food chain, thus they don’t have the time to gather pollutants compared to other marine sources. Hence it is reasonably safe to use during pregnancy.

Secondly, the high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely beneficial for good fetal brain development and early childhood brain development.

Please remember, expectant mothers should consult their doctor before taking any supplements whilst pregnant.

Skin care and wound healing

The high potency of Omega-3 fatty acids present in krill oil may have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the skin. This can help to reduce acne and scarring and improve the healing process of wounds.

Plus being an oil, our hair and skin can benefit from an all round glow. The presence of vitamins A and E also help in the improvement of hair and skin conditions and act as antioxidants alongside the carotenoid astaxanthin.

Weight Loss

Omega-3 fatty acids present in Krill Oil is thought to speed up metabolism and fat burning, and also reduce appetite.

And these are only the findings so far, more testing still needs to be done on krill oil and its benefits – so who knows what other amazing properties it possesses!

Krill oil v fish oil

This is one of the most commonly asked questions and has sparked a series of debates worldwide, all of which point to krill oil as being superior for the following reasons:

Bioavailable

The most unique thing about Krill Oil is its natural composition. It contains omega-3 fatty acids which are attached to phospholipids. This means that your body can readily absorb it unlike triglycerides in fish oil which have to be broken down in your gut.

Krill Oil is therefore more effective, as it allows the body to absorb more omega-3 (up to 15 times more than fish oil). This also allows for a lower dosage, ultimately saving you money.

High Antioxidant levels

Krill Oil’s antioxidant levels are 48 times higher than fish oil. This is mainly due to the high potency of antioxidant astaxanthin which formulates a unique bond with omega-3 fats.

Environmentally sustainable

Krill harvesting is carefully regulated. It is considered one of the most environmentally sustainable practices on the planet.

Only 1 to 2% of Krill biomass is harvested each year. This takes some of the guilt away of consuming it.

Contamination free

As Krill is at the bottom of the food chain it feeds on phytoplankton as opposed to contaminated fish making it pure and uncontaminated. This is in contrast to fish oil which is prone to mercury and other toxins.

No fishy aftertaste

Unlike fish oil which gives you a terrible fishy aftertaste particularly after burping, Krill oil has less of the fishy taste, they also come in smaller-sized gel capsules meaning they are easier to swallow.

For me personally this is a really big deal as it is one of the worst things about fish oil in my opinion, so this gets a big thumbs up from me.

Tips and tricks for purchasing the best krill oil supplement

• Where do my krill come from?

The best krill oil comes from the southern most part of the earth. For the most toxin-free krill oil, make sure they’re being harvested from the pristine waters of Antarctica and in an ecologically sustainable way.

• Omega-3 content

Omega-3 is the main reason you’re going to be consuming your krill oil, so be sure to get a supplement that’s got the highest levels possible within the daily recommendation of  around 1200mg and never exceeding 2000mg krill oil daily.

The best brands will list exactly how much EPA and DHA they have in them. Also pay attention to how much astaxanthin listed, the higher this is the better your omega-3 will be protected in your body and in their capsules before you’ve purchased them.

• Serving size

Pick a product with the closest to 1200mg per serving – if this is all in one capsule, even better! A once daily dose will make it easier to remember, however, most brands will recommend two capsules a day so be sure the serving size measures up to the daily recommendation.

• Phospholipids

As mentioned above, the most important difference between krill oil and fish oil is that krill oil is delivered into your body in the form of phospholipids. Be sure to pick a product with a high amount of phospholipids to ensure the most efficient absorption into your body.

• Steer clear of toxins, chemicals and additives

Be on the lookout for brands that bulk out their krill oil capsules with additives, allergens or fillers – steer clear of them at all costs. And if you can, do a little research into the brand’s extraction and production processes to make sure they don’t expose the supplement to any kind of harmful toxins or chemicals.

The 10 best krill oil supplements in 2018

We’ve sorted through the masses of krill oil products available and produced this list of the 10 best krill oil supplements in 2018 so you don’t have to do all the digging around yourself.

#1 – Editor’s Choice

Viva Naturals Premium Antarctic Krill Oil

Right on target

This awesome krill oil product gets our Editor’s Choice spot for basically being the perfect supplement. With two capsules daily you can get 1250mg of krill oil – which is pretty much bang-on target for the daily recommendation.

Viva Naturals freeze their krill straight after they catch them, to ensure the nutrients are guaranteed AND they only harvest krill from Antarctic waters, ensuring they meet the International Krill Oil Standards Program – very important to maintain an ecologically sustainable product and protect our precious oceans.

They’ve also been thoughtful enough to build technology into each capsule that minimizes the occurrence of fishy burps or aftertaste.

Astaxanthin galore

Want your krill oil to give you the best health benefits possible? Well, Viva Naturals has included a huge hit of 1.6mg of astaxanthin to do the job, this is more than you’re going to see in most krill oil products by far – this company really knows what they’re doing!

Price: (60 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, smaller capsules with technology to avoid fishy burps and aftertaste
• 500 mg of phospholipids per serving
• Huge amount of astaxanthin compared with other brands
• Complying with ecologically sustainable practices/standards

CON’S

• Capsules have been known to burst and leak sometimes

 

#2 Sports Research – Antarctic Krill Oil (Double Strength)

One softgel a day

Keep things super simple with this product from Sports Research with just one softgel a day for all your krill oil needs. It does fall a bit short of the recommended daily dose with 1000mg of krill oil in each capsule but it scores extra points for great levels of EPA, DHA and astaxanthin respectively.

Superba2 technology

This krill oil comes with the advanced formula Superba2 that gets rid of any fishy aftertaste and is clinically proven to increase omega-3 levels in the body. All of these claims are backed by a 90 day money back guarantee on your first purchase if you aren’t completely satisfied.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 1 softgel (128mg EPA, 60mg DHA and 1mg astaxanthin)
• Once a day capsule
• Comes with a money back guarantee
• Sustainably sourced

CON’S

• Slightly fishy burps reported by users despite guarantees there wouldn’t be
• Falls a bit short of daily recommendation

#3 Pure Label Nutrition Krill Oil

Benefits upon benefits

If you’re looking for a supplement that will increase your overall health, then krill oil could be exactly what you need. From the glowing reviews on Amazon, this product from Pure Label Nutrition has helped consumers get their cholesterol down rapidly, increase their energy, reduce inflammation and pain in joints, manage arthritis and so much more. And if that doesn’t convince you, you can enjoy their money back guarantee if you don’t love this product.

Quality krill oil

Pure Label Nutrition is so committed to giving you the highest quality krill oil that they guarantee it is 100% purified plus mercury, GMO, gluten and solvent free. And it may seem like an insignificant issue, but users have reported no fishy burps or aftertaste even after going through several bottles of this product (despite a slightly fishy smell when opening the bottle for the first time).

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (120mg EPA, 80mg DHA and 0.2mg astaxanthin)
• Guaranteed high quality krill oil
• Money back guarantee
• No fishy burps
• Reviews on Amazon indicate results are seen quickly

CON’S

• Less astaxanthin than other brands
• Slightly fishy smell when opening bottle for first time

#4 Bronson Antarctic Krill Oil

50 years of experience

When you buy this product from Bronson, you’re also buying half a century’s worth of experience and knowledge in the health and vitamin industry. This business has been around for a long time and understand how to make quality products. They ensure that this product is manufactured, tested and packaged within their company so they know what the quality is like at all times.

Something smells fishy

From their reviews on Amazon, some users have reported a strong fishy smell to these softgels. They recommend leaving them in the bottle until you need to take them as opposed to putting them in your pill pack and causing the smell to stick to the container. On the other hand, some reviews did advise the fishy smell is definitely there but not offensive at all, so this may not be an issue for you depending on your tolerance for odours.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (120mg EPA, 80mg DHA and 0.2mg astaxanthin)
• Money back guarantee
• Company with 50 years’ experience
• Very affordable

CON’S

• Less astaxanthin than other brands
• Some users report softgels smell very fishy

#5 Dr. Mercola Antarctic Krill Oil

No fillers

Unlike many other brands, Dr. Mercola’s krill oil contains zero fillers. Not even one,  in place of fillers they have organic olive oil and rosemary extract – which are excellent substitutes.

Enhanced shelf-life

These capsules have technology in them that stops them from oxidizing, which happens naturally over time. By preventing this, it means the krill oil will stay even fresher and the nutrients will be ready to get to work as soon as they get into your system, as long as you consume them before their expiry date. This product is also backed with a huge 365 day guarantee if you’re not satisfied.

Price: (60 capsules) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 capsules (120mg EPA, 55mg DHA and 2mg astaxanthin)
• Huge amount of astaxanthin
• Technology to prevent oxidation
• No fillers
• 365 day money back guarantee

CON’S

• Capsules are made with gelatin from the fish tilapia, some users have reported negative reactions to this

#6 Jarrow Formulas Krill Oil

Phospholipids a plenty

With roughly half of the 1200 mg serving size being phospholipids (650mg) this product is sure to be absorbed easily by your body so that you can reap the health benefits. Most brands will generally have less than half the serving size of phospholipids, but Jarrow’s didn’t cut any corners here.

Astaxanthin levels are relatively low

They may not have skimped on the phospholipids, but unfortunately this product only carries just over 0.1mg of astaxanthin. This antioxidant protects your krill oil from losing its potency so it would have been good to see it in higher levels in a product such as this one that hits the mark on all other aspects.

Price: (60 softgel capsules) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1200mg of krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (120mg EPA and 70mg DHA)
• 650mg phospholipids per serving
• Hits the exact daily recommendation of krill oil
• Affordable

CON’S

• Only 0.115 mg astaxanthin per serving

#7 Purity Labs Pure Antarctic Krill Oil

Contains omega-6

Similar to omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids have been known to assist with issues like ADHD, diabetic neuropathy, allergies and rheumatoid arthritis as well as lowering bad cholesterol. Purity Labs have included an omega-6 count of 40mg per serving which is a great added bonus.

The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in krill is about 1:12. Unfortunately, omega-3 levels have been lowered a little in this product with around 60mg EPA and 40mg DHA per serving.

Comparatively, this is a bit less than other brands. Generally, omega-6 is found in a lot of fast foods and meats which are generally abundant in everyone’s diet, so increasing it in this supplement and removing some omega-3 may have been a little counterproductive depending on your specific health needs.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 1 softgel (60mg EPA, 40mg DHA and 0.4mg astaxanthin)
• 1 softgel daily
• Contains omega-6

CON’S

• Only 200 mg of phospholipids per capsule
• Less EPA and DHA than other brands

#8 Onnit Krill Oil

Big focus on sustainability

One of Onnit’s biggest selling points are that their suppliers go to great lengths to make sure only krill are caught and that other sea life does not get tangled up in the harvesting process. Because of this, Onnit has actually been certified a “Friend of the Sea” – this certification is from an organisation that focuses on protecting our seas through sustainable seafood practices.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (130mg EPA, 60mg DHA and 0.2mg astaxanthin)
• Certified “Friend of the Sea” for ecologically sustainable practices
• Non GMO, gluten and soy free

CON’S

• Pricier than other brands
• Lower level of astaxanthin that other brands

#9 Daily Nutra Neptune Krill Oil

Money back guarantee

This product is a good all rounder, it doesn’t outshine many products but it has everything you need in effective doses. Daily Nutra are so sure you’ll see benefits from their product that they offer a 60 day money back guarantee so you can try this krill oil risk-free.

Lower your cholesterol

From the customer reviews, a huge trend with this product is that it’s been effective at lowering cholesterol. This is one of the main reasons consumers use krill oil so it’s great to know that it’s delivering results that will lower your risk of heart disease.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (120mg EPA, 60mg DHA and 0.1mg astaxanthin)
• Lowers cholesterol effectively

CON’S

• Pricier than other brands
• Less phospholipids than other brands (390mg per serving)
• Lower level of astaxanthin that other brands

#10 Kiva Antarctic Krill Oil

Tested by IKOS

Kiva has their krill oil third-party tested by the International Krill Oil Standard program to ensure that their product is of the highest quality and purity. It’s also been tested for heavy metals so you can be sure all measures are taken to prevent unnecessary toxins in your supplement.

Price: (60 softgels) on Amazon

PRO’S

• 1000 mg krill oil per serving of 2 softgels (160mg EPA, 72mg DHA and 0.102mg astaxanthin)
• Good amount of phospholipids (480mg per serving)
• Third party tested
• Tested for heavy metals

CON’S

• Lower level of astaxanthin that other brands