Essential Fatty Acids
NKO Krill – A good idea
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO) is the first product featuring phospholipids specially integrated with omega-3 fatty acids for building healthy cell membranes. NKO also contains antioxidants.
NKO Krill Oil is rich in astaxanthin, a natural carotenoid that is more powerful
than beta-carotene. Krill Oil has over 300 times the antioxidant power of
Vitamin C or Vitamin E, over 34 times the power of CoQ10, and more than 47
times the power of lutein, according to ORAC testing methods.(1)
In addition to antioxidants, NKO Krill Oil also contains phospholipids and
omega-3 fatty acids. Phospholipids are the primary structures of human cell
membranes and the "gatekeepers" of cells. The most predominant phospholipid
in Krill Oil is phsphatidyl-choline. Choline is a precursor for the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine, and for trimethylglycine, a methyl donor and known liver protector.(2)
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver and is present in times
of inflammatory response.(3) It is well-known that high CRP is an important
indicator of risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) (4), specifically athersclerosis,
which in turn may give rise of ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial infarction
(MI) and stroke.(5)
NKO Krill Oil has been shown to significantly decrease elevated C-reactive
protein levels in a controlled human study. The study involved 90 patients,
45 receiving 300 mg of NKO Krill Oil daily, 45 receiving a placebo. There
was over a 30% mean decrease in C-reactive protein levels in the NKO Krill
Oil group after 30 days.(6)
There are several predictors of the risk of cardiovascular disease. High levels
of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and low levels of
"good" HDL cholesterol all have been long-standing indicators of
risk of coronary heart disease. NKO Krill Oil was the subject of a controlled
human study involving 120 patients with hyperlipidemia (elevated blood lipids).
The study included groups receiving placebo, receiving 3 g fish oil daily,
and those receiving 1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 3 g NKO Krill Oil daily for 90 days.
After ninety days, all NKO Krill Oil groups showed significant decreases in
total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and simultaneous increases
in HDL cholesterol. In the 1 g and 1.5 g Krill Oil groups, the patients were
kept on a maintenance dose of 500 mg daily for another ninety days, and each
group maintained significant corrections in all four markers as compared with
baseline values.7
Another study conducted on Krill Oil involved Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
In a controlled published study, 70 patients with PMS were asked to take either
2 g NKO Krill Oil or 2 g of 18:12 fish oil daily for 30 days, then continue
dosing eight days prior to and two days after menstruation, for a total study
time of three months. After both 45 and 90 days, there was a greater statistically
significant improvement over a broader range of PMS symptoms in the NKO Krill
Oil Group over the group taking fish oil. Symptoms improved by NKO Krill Oil
included breast tenderness, stress, irritability, depression, joint pain,
abdominal pain, weight gain, and bloating.(8)
If you are pregnant, nursing, allergic to shellfish, have a blood coagulation
condition, or taking anticoagulations such as Warfarin, consult your healthcare
professional before using this product.
Resources
Notes:
1 ORAC Assay,
Neptune Technologies and BioResources, Nov 2003
2 Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. National Academy Press, 1998, p. 390
3 Christopher L., "C-Reactive Protein," (Review) Medline Plus, US National Library of Medicine, Sept 2003
4 Pasceri V, et al, "Direct Pro-Inflammatory Effect of C-Reactive Protein on Human Endothelial Cells," Circulation, 2000 Oct 102 (18): 2165-8
5 Paoletti R., et al, "Inflammation in Atherosclerosis and Implications for Therapy." Circulation, 2004 Jun 109 (23 Suppl 1): 1120-6
6 Sampalis F, unpub clinical study, 2004
7 Bunea R, et al, unpub clinical study, 2004
8 Sampalis F, Alternative Medicine Review, pp. 175-176