About the Product
Marvelous Nutrition's Super Krill is a supplement in capsules of 100% pure Antarctic krill oil (Euphausia superba), with 1000 mg of krill oil per capsule, enriched with its natural bioactive components: 120 mg of EPA, 80 mg of DHA, 400 mg of phospholipids, and 245 µg of astaxanthin. Krill oil differs fundamentally from conventional fish oil in that its omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are bound to phospholipids (instead of triglycerides, as in fish oil), which results in superior bioavailability, and in the natural presence of astaxanthin — one of the most potent antioxidants known — and choline (via phosphatidylcholine), an essential nutrient for brain and liver health. Antarctic krill caught in clean Antarctic waters, free from heavy metals. 60 capsules. Non-vegan (crustacean).
Benefits
The fundamental difference between krill oil and fish oil: phospholipids vs. triglycerides:
The most important distinction of krill oil from conventional fish oil is not the amount of EPA and DHA (which per equivalent dose can be lower in krill), but the chemical form in which these fatty acids exist. In fish oil, EPA and DHA are esterified in triglycerides (TG): to be absorbed, TGs need to be hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase in the intestinal lumen into free fatty acids and monoglycerides before forming micelles with bile salts and being absorbed by enterocytes. In krill oil, EPA and DHA are esterified in phospholipids (mainly phosphatidylcholine, PC, and phosphatidylethanolamine, PE): phospholipids are natural components of biological membranes and have a different and more efficient absorption pathway — they can be directly absorbed as lysophospholipids (after the action of pancreatic phospholipase A2) and incorporated into the cell membranes of enterocytes without the need for re-esterification. Comparative studies have documented that the bioavailability of EPA and DHA from krill is 10 to 15% higher than that of fish oil in the TG form when assessed by the erythrocyte omega-3 index (a validated method for evaluating omega-3 status in tissues). A practical consequence of this difference is that krill oil does not cause the usual "fish burp" associated with fish oil, as phospholipids are absorbed more proximally in the small intestine, and there is less free EPA and DHA in the lower intestine to be fermented.
400 mg of phospholipids: the structural component of cell membranes:
Krill phospholipids (400 mg/capsule in Super Krill) are mainly phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) with EPA and DHA esterified at the sn-2 positions of their glycerol backbones. In addition to serving as a transport vehicle for EPA and DHA, krill phospholipids have their own functions in cell membranes: phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid in plasma membranes and lipoprotein membranes (HDL, LDL, VLDL), and is also a direct source of choline (the phosphocholine group of PC is hydrolyzed in the intestine, releasing free choline that can be absorbed and used in acetylcholine synthesis and methylation). The incorporation of EPA and DHA into cell membranes in the form of phospholipids (instead of TGs, which must first be hydrolyzed and then re-esterified before incorporation into membranes) is more efficient and results in greater enrichment of membranes with these essential fatty acids.
245 µg of astaxanthin: krill's exclusive antioxidant with exceptional potency:
Astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4'-dione) is a xanthophyll carotenoid produced by microalgae (especially Haematococcus pluvialis) and accumulated along the marine food chain, being responsible for the red/pink color of crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, crab), salmon, and krill. Krill is one of the richest natural dietary sources of astaxanthin, which is the main component responsible for the red color of krill oil. Astaxanthin has exceptionally potent antioxidant properties that distinguish it from other carotenoids: unlike beta-carotene and lycopene (which have antioxidant activity on only one side of the membrane), astaxanthin has a molecular structure that spans the entire phospholipid bilayer, with its polar hydroxyl groups at the ends anchoring it to the outer and inner interfaces of the membrane, and the conjugated double bond chain in the hydrophobic interior acting as a free radical scavenger throughout the thickness of the membrane. This unique geometry gives astaxanthin an antioxidant activity 10 times higher than beta-carotene, 550 times higher than vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and 6000 times higher than vitamin C in singlet oxygen quenching assays. EFSA recognizes astaxanthin as contributing to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. In addition to its antioxidant activity, astaxanthin has documented anti-inflammatory effects (NF-κB and COX-2 inhibition), neuroprotective effects (crosses the blood-brain barrier), and retinal protection (accumulates in the macula and protects photoreceptors from photo-oxidative damage).
Cardiovascular health: the synergistic effect of EPA/DHA + phospholipids + astaxanthin:
Krill oil has a cardiovascular effect resulting from the synergy of three components: EPA and DHA (with the effects already described in the Omega 3 section — triglyceride reduction, modulation of platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory effect via resolvins); phospholipids (which support the integrity of erythrocyte and endothelial cell membranes and play a role in regulating HDL-cholesterol via lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, LCAT); and astaxanthin (which protects LDL from oxidation — the critical step in atherosclerotic plaque formation, as described in the Vitamin E section). The meta-analysis by Berge et al. (2014) documented that krill oil reduced plasma triglycerides in a dose-dependent manner, with an effect at lower doses of EPA+DHA than conventional fish oil, suggesting that the phospholipid form has greater metabolic efficiency in this specific effect.
Brain health and memory: DHA in phospholipids for neural membranes:
DHA in the form of phosphatidylserine (PS-DHA) and phosphatidylcholine (PC-DHA) is the preferred form for incorporation into the membranes of neurons and synapses. Krill oil provides EPA and DHA directly in the form of phospholipids (predominantly PC-EPA and PC-DHA), which are preferentially incorporated into the membranes of nervous tissues compared to DHA in the TG form. Studies in animal models have documented greater accumulation of DHA in the brain with krill supplementation vs. fish oil. Choline released by the hydrolysis of krill phosphatidylcholine is a precursor to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter essential for working memory, attention, and executive function.
Sustainability and purity: Antarctic krill from pristine waters:
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) inhabits the cleanest waters on the planet and is among the most abundant animals on Earth (estimated biomass of 125 to 750 million tons). Being at the base of the Antarctic food chain (feeding on phytoplankton and microalgae), krill does not bioaccumulate heavy metals such as mercury, PCBs, or dioxins (which progressively concentrate along the food chain in large fish). Antarctic krill fishing is managed by CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) with very conservative catch limits that ensure long-term sustainability.
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 to 2 capsules/day with a meal. Taking with food improves absorption (although the phospholipid form is more independent of the presence of fat in the meal than fish oil in TG). 60 capsules per pack.
