Advances in Technologies for Highly Active Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Krill Oil: Clinical Applications

Euphausia superba, commonly known as krill, is a small marine crustacean from the Antarctic Ocean that plays an important role in the marine ecosystem, serving as feed for most fish. It is a known source of highly bioavailable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). In preclinical studies, krill oil showed metabolic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and chemo preventive effects, while in clinical trials it showed significant metabolic, vascular and ergogenic actions. Solvent extraction is the most conventional method to obtain krill oil. However, different solvents must be used to extract all lipids from krill because of the diversity of the polarities of the lipid compounds in the biomass. This review aims to provide an overview of the chemical composition, bioavailability and bioaccessibility of krill oil, as well as the mechanisms of action, classic and non-conventional extraction techniques, health benefits and current applications of this marine crustacean.

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Comparative study of tissue deposition of omega-3 fatty acids from polar-lipid rich oil of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata with krill oil in rats

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/c4fo00591k ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 185-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Michael L. Kagan ◽

Aharon Levy ◽

Alicia Leikin-Frenkel

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Polar Lipid ◽

Rat Plasma ◽

Nannochloropsis Oculata ◽

Polar Lipids ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Krill Oil ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Epa And Dha

An oil from micro-algae rich in EPA with no DHA and consisting of 15% polar lipids (phospholipids and glycolipids) showed equivalent uptake of EPA into rat plasma and organs as omega-3 krill oil consisting of EPA and DHA and 40% phospholipids.

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Krill oil to improve blood lipids status in advanced cancer patient with cachexia.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.e19634 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e19634-e19634

Author(s):

Roberto Serpe ◽

Clelia Madeddu ◽

Filomena Panzone ◽

Giorgia Antoni ◽

Maria Chiara Cau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Total Cholesterol ◽

Cancer Cachexia ◽

Blood Lipid ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Krill Oil ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Blood Lipid Profile ◽

Cholesterol Levels

e19634 Background: Cancer patients with cachexia symptoms often show a lipid profile disorder, consisting in severe hypertriglyceridemia due to increased circulating free fatty acids and variable total cholesterol levels, decreased activity of lipoprotein lipase and increased lipolysis, which is correlated with proinflammatory cytokines levels, particularly IL-6 and TNFα. Recent evidence further confirms impairment of adipose tissue metabolism in inflammatory condition like cancer cachexia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nutritional supplementation with Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in the form of Krill Oil, on main parameters of blood lipid profile and on IL-6 and TNFα blood levels. Methods: In 2011, 34 IV stage cachectic patients (M/F 20/14; age range 55-85 y) with cancer at different sites were enrolled. 21 healthy subjects were studied as controls. All patients had high blood tryglicerides, low total cholesterol levels , high levels of blood IL-6 and TNFα compared to controls. Patients received 3 capsules (3 g/day) of krill oil (Superba™ Krill Oil, Aker Biomarine, Norway), which is an oil extract from the crustacean krill (Euphausia Superba) which contains Omega-3 series unsaturated fatty acids in phospholipidic form, of which 98 % are EPA and DHA mainly in phospholipid form. Treatment duration was 2 months. Results: A significant reduction of tryglicerides blood levels (148.23 ± 88.06 vs 114 ± 55.8 mg/dl) and a significant improvement of HDL cholesterol (42.5 ± 15.6 vs 60.9 ± 12.3 mg/dl) and Total Cholesterol (135.6 ± 46.3 vs 159 ± 41.1 mg/dl) was observed after treatment. Cytokines Il-6 and TNFα blood levels did not change significantly after treatment Conclusions: Nutritional supplementation with krill oil showed a positive activity in the regulation of blood lipid profile, involving different metabolic and inflammatory pathways, probably mainly affecting hormone-sensitive lipase activity. Our data suggest that krill oil could be useful in multi-targeted combined pharmaco-nutritional approaches to treat cancer-cachexia. Additional phase III clinical studies are warranted.

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Neuroprotective Properties of the Marine Carotenoid Astaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Perspectives for the Natural Combination of Both in Krill Oil

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu6031293 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 1293-1317 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Marcelo Barros ◽

Sandra Poppe ◽

Eduardo Bondan

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Krill Oil ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Natural Combination

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Effect of a carnivorous diet on the lipids, fatty acids and condition of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102007000259 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 183-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Wilhelm Hagen ◽

Toshihiro Yoshida ◽

Patti Virtue ◽

So Kawaguchi ◽

Kerrie M. Swadling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polar Lipid ◽

Antarctic Krill ◽

Euphausia Superba ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Fatty Acid Profiles ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Feeding Trial ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

In The Wild

AbstractKrill are thought to be predominantly herbivorous, but a heterotrophic diet might be crucial for their growth and survival. To compare the influence of herbivory and carnivory on krill we conducted a nine month feeding trial. We examined lipid composition of the hepatopancreas, abdomen and remaining body portions of krill fed diatoms at bloom condition levels, and diatoms with the addition of pellets or minced clam meat to simulate a partly carnivorous diet. Mortality, dry mass and lipid content were similar among treatments. We examined lipid class and fatty acid profiles, with emphasis placed on the ratio of storage (triacylglycerol) to structural (polar lipid) lipid and key essential omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3. The triacylglycerol : polar lipid ratio increased in krill fed on the mixed diet as did the 20:5ω3 : 22:6ω3 ratio. Overall these findings indicate that provision of clam in the diet improved krill condition, and further suggest that carnivory may aid krill growth in the wild under certain environmental conditions.

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Lipids, trophic relationships, and biodiversity in Arctic and Antarctic krill

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f00-194 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (S3) ◽

pp. 178-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 180

Author(s):

Stig Falk-Petersen ◽

Wilhelm Hagen ◽

Gerhard Kattner ◽

Andrew Clarke ◽

John Sargent

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Neutral Lipids ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Euphausia Superba ◽

High Ratio ◽

Wax Esters ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

The Arctic ◽

Lower Ratio ◽

The Antarctic

Environmental seasonality is a critical factor in structuring polar marine ecosystems. The extensive data now available on the lipids of Arctic and Antarctic euphausiids show that all species are characterised by a seasonally high lipid content, and neutral lipids, whether wax esters or triacylglycerols, are primarily accumulated for reproduction. The Arctic Thysanoessa inermis and the Antarctic Euphausia crystallorophias contain high levels of wax esters and higher concentrations of 18:4(n-3) and 20:5(n-3) and a lower ratio of 18:1(n-9)/(n-7) fatty acids in their neutral lipids than the Arctic Thysanoessa raschii and the Antarctic Thysanoessa macrura and Euphausia superba. Large amounts of phytol in the lipids of T. raschii and E. crystallorophias during winter suggest the ingestion of decaying algae originating in sedimenting material or in sea ice. Thysanoessa raschii, T. macrura, and E. superba have a high ratio of 18:1(n-9)/ (n-7) fatty acids, indicating animal carnivory. We conclude that T. inermis and E. crystallorophias are true high polar herbivores, while T. raschii, T. macrura, and E. superba are omnivores with a more boreal distribution. The Arctic species Thysanoessa longicaudata and Meganyctiphanes norvegica are carnivores feeding on Calanus, as indicated by high amounts of 20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11) fatty acids.

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Fishing down the food web of the Antarctic continental shelf and slope

Polar Record ◽

10.1017/s0032247412000757 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 92-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

David G. Ainley ◽

Daniel Pauly

Keyword(s):

Southern Ocean ◽

Food Web ◽

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Continental Margin ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Euphausia Superba ◽

The Commons ◽

By Catch ◽

The Antarctic

ABSTRACTThe history of biotic exploitation for the continental margin (shelf and slope) of the Antarctic Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) is reviewed, with emphasis on the period from 1970 to 2010. In the Antarctic Peninsula portion, marine mammals were decimated by the 1970s and groundfish by the early 1980s. Fishing for Antarctic krill Euphausia superba began upon the demise of groundfish and now is the only fishing that remains in this region. Surveys show that cetacean and most groundfish stocks remain severely depressed, harvest of which is now prohibited by the International Whaling Commission and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). On the other hand, krill fishing in this region is underway and in recent years has contributed up to 72% of the Southern Ocean catch, depending on fishing conditions and the CCAMLR conservation measures in force. Elsewhere along the Antarctic continental margin, marine mammals were also severely depleted by the 1970s, followed directly by relatively low-level fisheries for krill that continued until the early 1990s. Recently in these areas, where fin-fishing is still allowed, fisheries for Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni have been initiated, with one of this fish's main prey, grenadiers Macrourus spp., being taken significantly as by-catch. Continental margin fishing currently accounts for ~25% of the total toothfish catch of the Southern Ocean. Fishing along the Antarctic continental margin, especially the Antarctic Peninsula region, is a clear case of both the tragedy of the commons and ‘fishing down the food web’.

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Dietary Fish, Fish Nutrients, and Immune Function: A Review

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2020.617652 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos O. Mendivil

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Feedback Signal ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Inflammatory Conditions ◽

Lipid Compounds ◽

And Function

Dietary habits have a major impact on the development and function of the immune system. This impact is mediated both by the intrinsic nutritional and biochemical qualities of the diet, and by its influence on the intestinal microbiota. Fish as a food is rich in compounds with immunoregulatory properties, among them omega-3 fatty acids, melatonin, tryptophan, taurine and polyamines. In addition, regular fish consumption favors the proliferation of beneficial members of the intestinal microbiota, like short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. By substituting arachidonic acid in the eicosanoid biosynthesis pathway, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish change the type of prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes being produced, resulting in anti-inflammatory properties. Further, they also are substrates for the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) (resolvins, protectins, and maresins), lipid compounds that constitute the physiological feedback signal to stop inflammation and give way to tissue reparation. Evidence from human observational and interventional studies shows that regular fish consumption is associated with reduced incidence of chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and that continuous infusion of fish oil to tube-fed, critically ill patients may improve important outcomes in the ICU. There is also evidence from animal models showing that larger systemic concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may counter the pathophysiological cascade that leads to psoriasis. The knowledge gained over the last few decades merits future exploration of the potential role of fish and its components in other conditions characterized by deregulated activation of immune cells and a cytokine storm like viral sepsis or COVID-19.

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Physical and oxidation stability of self-emulsifying krill oil-in-water emulsions

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/c6fo00045b ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 3590-3598 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Qian Wu ◽

Sibel Uluata ◽

Leqi Cui ◽

Chao Wang ◽

Dongsheng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Oxidation Stability ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Krill Oil ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Oil In Water ◽

Unique Source

Krill oil is a unique source of omega-3 fatty acids since it is a mixture of phospholipids and triacylglycerols.

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Severe HIV-associated hypertriglyceridaemia treated with rosuvastatin plus omega-3 fatty acids

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/ijsa.2008.008419 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 580-581 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K Falasca ◽

C Ucciferri ◽

P Mancino ◽

E Pizzigallo ◽

L Calza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Highly Active ◽

Diet And Exercise ◽

Current Guidelines

Compared with healthy controls, HIV patients already have abnormal lipoprotein concentrations before the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which worsen with the therapy. HAART-associated dyslipidaemia features fundamental proatherogenic changes such as increased plasma triglycerides (TGs), increased total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The current guidelines for managing HIV-associated dyslipidaemia recommend diet and exercise counselling, alteration of HAART regimen or addition of lipid-lowering medications such as statins, fibrates and omega-3 (OM-3) fatty acids. Given that cardiovascular risk significantly increases with elevated lipid levels, selecting a drug to manage dyslipidaemia is particularly important. A case is described of an HIV patient who had severe hypertriglyceridaemia and bad metabolic parameters treated with rosuvastatin and OM-3 fatty acids. So we obtained a more marked reduction of TG levels than has never been described before in the literature, associated with a significant increase in HDL-C levels.

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