What Is Krill Oil: Benefits, Side Effects & More

Krill oil might fix your fish burps, but it might not be any better for you than your standard fish oil supplement. Krill oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids which we know to be essential, but the research into whether krill oil is a better source than other omega-3 supplements is, at best, very limited. 

We’ll discuss everything you need to know about krill oil and whether or not there is a better option for supplementing with fatty acids. Spoiler alert: There’s a new essential fatty acid on the block that has been shown to be better, broader, and safer than omega-3 fish oil supplements. 

What Is Krill Oil?

Krill oil is an oil derived from small shrimp-like crustaceans. These oceanic creatures are called Antarctic krill and support the diets of animals like whales, seals, and penguins. Like fish oil, krill oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. As such, krill oil is harvested and encapsulated for human consumption. 

Who Takes Krill Oil?

Krill oil is taken by anyone who wants to supplement their dietary omega-3 intake. Many people get the omega-3 they need from their consumption of foods like:

• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies)
• Flax seed
• Eggs
• Walnuts
• Soybeans

Many people take omega-3 supplements because their healthcare provider recommended it as a way to reduce the risk factors of heart disease. Many of the benefits of omega-3, especially those related to one type of omega-3 known as EPA, support cardiovascular health.

Health Benefits of Krill Oil

Krill oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. You’ve probably heard that omega-3 is essential. That means our body needs omega-3 to thrive but cannot readily make it by itself. We have to get omega-3 from our diet or supplements. 

Prior to 2020, it was thought that there were only 2 essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA). Although only ALA and LA are actually essential, the heart health benefits of omega-3 primarily focus on the effects of EPA explicitly without DHA. 

These health benefits include:

• Blood pressure regulation
• Lower triglyceride levels
• Reduced risk of stroke

Krill oil capsules or softgels may have additional benefits, like:

• Less fishy aftertaste than fish oil supplements
• More bioavailability than fish oil because it is delivered to the body as a phospholipid
• Higher level of antioxidants than fish oil

There’s not enough research to establish whether the claim that krill oil is more bioavailable than fish oil is true. Additionally, some people may still experience a fishy aftertaste from krill oil dietary supplements because the oil is still derived from marine life. 

Side Effects of Krill Oil

Both krill oil and fish oil have some side effects that consumers should be aware of. These side effects are important, especially if you have underlying health conditions that could become exacerbated by them. 

In certain concentrations, omega-3 can:

• Lead to low blood pressure
  
  
• Cause thinning of the blood
  
  
• Lead to excessive bleeding if an accident were to occur
  
  
• Cause you to bruise more easily
  
  
• Rancidity. Because omega-3s are liquids at room temperature, they can go rancid in your body. Researchers found that as many as one in ten bottles of omega-3 were rancid on store shelves before they were even sold.
  
  
• Might not be safe for breastfeeding mothers. 

These side effects may mean that omega-3 fish oil supplements aren’t a good fit for you. Additionally, krill oil is expensive compared to omega-3. The good news? There’s an alternative that is a better, broader, and safer essential fatty acid. 

A Better Fatty Acid

Pentadecanoic acid, or C15:0 for short, was discovered as an essential nutrient by chance. Doctors working to improve the long-term health of dolphins noted that one population of dolphins had fewer occurrences of age-related illness than another population. The difference they found was in their diets. One population had a diet rich in pentadecanoic acid, while the other did not. 

These scientists decided to take their research further and study the effects of pentadecanoic acid on humans. As it turns out, the protective benefits that the dolphins enjoyed were also available to humans. In 2020, researchers published their findings. 

Since that time, more than 100 peer-reviewed papers have been published on the benefits of C15:0, establishing it as:

• Essential. Our bodies cannot make C15:0; we must get it from our diets, and our body requires C15:0 to thrive.
  
  
• Effective. C15:0 works inside our cells to protect metabolic, liver, cognitive, immune, and red blood cell health.
  
  
• Safe. Safety studies have consistently shown that C15:0 is not only safe for our cells but essential for cellular function. And, without the fishy aftertaste.
  
  
• Better than omega-3. When compared to the highest performing, purest omega-3, C15:0 was found to be better, broader, and safer. Click here to see the study.

If you're interested in learning more about this nutrient, its discovery, benefits, and supporting science are described in a recently released book by Simon & Schuster titled The Longevity Nutrient.

Benefits of C15:0

C15:0 is an odd-chain, saturated fatty acid. Unlike omega-3, which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, C15:0 is solid at room temperature, which means it isn’t susceptible to oxidation. That means it doesn’t go rancid. Although you’ve probably heard that all saturated fat is bad, science says that isn’t true. 

In fact, this important type of saturated fat has consistently been shown to improve health. There is now a call to action to update current dietary guidelines and differentiate between good and bad saturated fats.

C15:0, specifically, has numerous benefits. These include:

• Strengthening cellular membranes. C15:0 is a sturdy fatty acid that armors our cell membranes against age-related breakdown. Studies have shown that pure C15:0 improves cellular strength by 80%.
  
  
• Clearing damaged cells. C15:0 activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR, which help clear out damaged cells.
  
  
• Regulating inflammatory response. C15:0 significantly calms and lowers proinflammatory cytokines, a key driver of aging.
  
  
• Rescuing energy-generating pathways. C15:0 repairs mitochondrial function, increasing our cell’s energy output and decreasing damaging reactive oxygen species by 45%.
  
  
• Increasing cellular energy. C15:0 has been shown to have significant cell-energy (aka ATP) generating power. In one peer-reviewed study, C15:0 was shown to increase ATP levels in cells by 350%.
  
  
• Activating AMPK. C15:0 restores cellular and whole body homeostasis, regulates glucose uptake, and calms our immune systems.
  
  
• Activating PPARɑ and PPARẟ receptors. By activating these receptors, C15:0 has been shown in peer-reviewed studies to support metabolic, immune, liver, and heart health in relevant models. These receptors also help to improve mood and deepen sleep.
  
  
• Lowering LDL cholesterol levels
  
  
• Improving liver enzymes
  
  
• Improving the gut microbiome

C15:0 has even been shown to target 6 of the 12 hallmarks of aging. C15:0 is also safe for breastfeeding mothers and has been shown to support a healthy pregnancy.

Are You Getting Enough?

Chances are, you may not be getting enough C15:0. The discovery of C15:0 as essential led researchers to answer the question, “What happens if we don’t get enough C15:0?” 

This research led to the discovery of the nutritional deficiency called Cellular Fragility Syndrome. Cellular Fragility Syndrome is a state in which the cells of the body become particularly fragile and susceptible to premature aging and death. 

According to Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, “The discovery of a nutritional C15:0 deficiency syndrome is the culmination of over a decade of rigorous studies. As a hopeful inspiration to fellow and future scientists, this shows that there are still simple and impactful discoveries to be made that can meaningfully improve global health.”

Interestingly, Cellular Fragility Syndrome is also associated with a particular type of cell death known as ferroptosis, which can lead to accelerated aging and poor metabolic health. Worldwide levels of C15:0 have been declining for decades due to an avoidance of whole-fat dairy products (a primary source of C15:0). As such, most of us simply aren’t getting enough C15:0 in our diets. 

It is estimated that as many as one in three people globally have Cellular Fragility Syndrome. Before you break out the whole milk, there are some things you should know about leveling up your C15:0 and fixing Cellular Fragility Syndrome.

Whole Milk or Supplements: Which Is Best?

C15:0 is found in trace amounts in whole-fat dairy products and some fish, especially in the skin and heads, which explains where the dolphins were getting the nutrient. Unlike dolphins, we don’t generally eat the skin and heads of fish to increase our circulating levels of C15:0. That leaves whole-fat dairy, and attempting to fix our C15:0 levels with whole-fat dairy may not be the ideal solution for several reasons.

Absorption Issues

In whole milk and other full-fat dairy products, C15:0 is attached to branches of triglycerides, which must be broken down before our bodies can use them. This extra step means our bodies have to work harder to get the C15:0 they need, and the process is less efficient. 

Bad Fats

Not all fat is bad, but not all fat is good. Some fat, like even-chain saturated fat, is not healthy for us. 

Although whole-fat dairy contains beneficial C15:0, it contains much higher levels of unhealthy even-chain saturated fat. This is probably why there’s a huge debate as to whether or not whole dairy is good for us. Some studies support that dairy is beneficial and others support that it is not good for us. 

Excess Calories

There’s no denying that whole-fat dairy products contain a high amount of calories. They also contain sugar in the form of lactose. This may be the reason that a recent study discovered that adults who consume dairy milk are more likely to have a higher body weight. 

It isn’t Vegan

If you are vegan or looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, consuming more animal-based products is not an option. Just so you know, plant-based milk (like almond and soy) is completely void of C15:0. 

For these reasons, it is a good idea to get your essential C15:0 from a supplement like fatty15. 

Fatty15

Fatty15 is the first and only supplement that contains the pure, vegan version of C15:0 known as FA15™. 

Born from science, this sustainable source of C15:0 is:

• Already in free fatty acid form and ready to be absorbed by your body
• Contains only the essential C15:0 you need, no other fats or ingredients 
• Has just one calorie, and no sugar
• Will never give you fish burps because it is not derived from fish
• Complements a vegan diet 

Taking just one fatty15 capsule per day is an easy way to support your long-term wellness and enjoy the benefits of improved cellular health. Fatty15 is your science backed & award-winning healthy aging supplement that reverses aging at the cellular level.

Krill the Game

Krill oil may be a better source of omega-3 than fish oil, but there’s not enough research to establish that for sure. There is, however, considerable science to support that C15:0 is better, broader, and safer for your cells than omega-3. 

Fatty15 is your pure C15:0 supplement that strengthens and protects your cells against aging, supporting your long-term health and wellness.

Sources:

Revealed: many common omega-3 fish oil supplements are ‘rancid’ | The Guardian

The efficacy of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acid pentadecanoic acid parallels broad associated health benefits in humans: could it be essential? | Scientific Reports

Effect of an Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet and pentadecanoic acid on fatty liver disease: the TANGO randomized controlled trial | ScienceDirect

Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0), an Essential Fatty Acid, Shares Clinically Relevant Cell-Based Activities with Leading Longevity-Enhancing Compounds | MDPI

Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe | PubMed

Krill Oil: Benefits, Dangers & Side Effects | Drugs.com

The Cellular Stability Hypothesis: Evidence of Ferroptosis and Accelerated Aging-Associated Diseases as Newly Identified Nutritional Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0) Deficiency Syndrome | MDPI

Changes in plasma phospholipid fatty acid profiles over 13 years and correlates of change: European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk Study | ScienceDirect