Effects of krill oil on endothelial function and other cardiovascular risk factors in participants with type 2 diabetes, a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of krill oil supplementation, a source of ω-3 fatty acids, on cardiovascular disease risk factors and blood glucose control among participants with type 2 diabetes.Research design and methodsA randomized, double-blind controlled cross-over trial was employed. Outcomes assessed were: endothelial function, blood lipids, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum antioxidant level, C peptide, and calculated Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores. Participants were randomized to either krill oil or olive oil supplementation for 4 weeks, underwent a 2-week washout period, and then crossed to the other supplementation for 4 weeks. All participants were then offered an additional 17 weeks of krill supplementation. Testing occurred at 3 time points: baseline, after first supplementation, and after second supplementation. Testing also occurred after an optional 17 weeks of krill oil supplementation. Difference scores were calculated for each participant in both sequences (ie, differences in outcome measures in the first and second period of the sequence). The mean and SD of the scores in the 2 sequence groups were used to test for differences between treatment effects at a significance level of p<0.05.ResultsA total of 47 participants were included in the initial cross-over study. Participants who received krill oil for 4 weeks had an improvement in their endothelial function and a reduction in blood C peptide levels and HOMA scores as compared with the olive oil. A total of 34 participants completed the additional 17-week supplementation period. When compared with their respective baseline measures, these participants had a statistically significant improvement in endothelial function and blood high-density lipoprotein (HDL).ConclusionsKrill oil may lead to moderate improvement of cardiovascular risks, specifically endothelial dysfunction and HDL in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trial registration numberRegistered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02091193.

Effects of Antarctic krill oil on lipid and glucose metabolism in C57BL/6J mice fed with high fat diet

“…These results of the diets supplement of KO on animal health could decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, implication on the cardiovascular protective effect of Krill oil which were consistent with other studies. Dietary Krill oil supplementation reduction of hypercholesterolemia has been reported in high fat fed mice [ 6 , 7 ], rat [ 28 ], rabbit [ 10 ] and human trial [ 11 , 31 ].…”

“…KO as a food supplementation has become popular with some pilot trials indicating healthy benefits [ 11 ]. Beuy et al, had reviewed the biological function of the KO, and pointed out that KO seems to be good marine food supplementation but there is still no concrete conclusive on clinical efficacy in the management of chronic metabolic diseases [ 12 ].…”

Effects of a purified krill oil phospholipid rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease risk factors in non-human primates with naturally occurring diabetes type-2 and dyslipidemia

“…The highest dose of 3 g/day reduced total cholesterol by 18%, LDL-c by 37% and triglycerides by 28% and at the same time increased HDL-c by as much as 55% [42]. In a recently published randomized controlled clinical trial, Lobraico and co-workers gave krill oil containing 1 g omega-3 fatty acids to patients with diabetes type-2 for 17 weeks and demonstrated that following treatment, the patients had significantly improved endothelial function and increased HDL but no effect was seen on LDL levels, neither relative to baseline nor to a control population given olive oil [43]. Berge et al (2014), giving krill oil up to 4 g/day for 12 weeks to subjects with borderline high or high serum triglyceride levels did not see any significant effects on cholesterols but observed a reduction in triglycerides [44].…”

Comparison of the effects of two different marine-derived omega- 3 fatty acid sources, krill oil and fish oil, on the healing of primary colonic anastomoses after colectomy applied Wistar albino rat model

“…This fibrinopurulent exudates repress collagen and new blood vessel formation and, as a result, that the anastomosis heals by secondary intention. [32] Lobraico et al [33] revealed that KO supplementation has a positive effect on endothelial function. Fahs et al [34] also demonstrate the positive impact of FO supplementation on endothelial function.…”