Study
Bioavailability of Fatty Acids from Krill Oil, Krill Meal and Fish Oil in Healthy Subjects
Krill oil had higher 72-hour EPA+DHA bioavailability than fish oil, but krill meal and fish oil had similar bioavailability, arguing against phospholipid superiority.
Summary Is krill oil absorbed better than fish oil or krill meal? Show / hide ↓
Researchers gave 15 healthy adults one dose of krill oil, krill meal, or fish oil, then tracked the results for 72 hours. They measured bioavailability, meaning how much of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA entered the bloodstream. Krill oil produced higher blood levels than fish oil or krill meal. Krill meal and fish oil performed similarly, despite krill meal containing more fats attached to phospholipids, a type of fat molecule.
What this means for you: This small, short-term study does not show that krill oil provides better long-term health benefits. You can ignore claims that krill meal or phospholipids are automatically better absorbed, but there is not enough evidence here to justify paying much more for krill oil.
early evidenceThis crossover trial in 15 healthy subjects compared 72-hour bioavailability of EPA+DHA from krill oil (1,400 mg EPA+DHA), krill meal (1,102 mg), and fish oil (1,455 mg). The incremental area under the curve for plasma phospholipid EPA+DHA was significantly higher after krill oil (89.08%) than after fish oil (59.15%, P=0.003) or krill meal (44.97%, P<0.001). However, krill meal and fish oil were not significantly different, which argues against the interpretation that phospholipids are better absorbed than triglycerides. The authors noted large inter-individual variability and recommended longer-term studies using red blood cell EPA+DHA (the Omega-3 Index).
EPA and DHA in krill oil had a higher 72-hour bioavailability than in krill meal or fish oil. Our finding that bioavailabilities of EPA and DHA in krill meal and fish oil were not different argues against the interpretation that phospholipids are better absorbed than triglycerides.
Small sample (n=15), single-dose design, short follow-up (72h). A 2024 meta-analysis of 26 studies found krill oil superior at doses under 2,000 mg but high-dose fish oil was more effective for raising the Omega-3 Index.
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