Lipid-modifying effects of krill oil in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Context: Some experimental and clinical trials have shown that krill oil, extracted from small red crustaceans, might be an effective lipid-modifying agent, but the evidence is not conclusive. Objective: The effect of krill oil supplements on plasma lipid concentrations was assessed through a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials. Data sources: PubMed and Scopus were searched up to March 25, 2016, to identify RCTs investigating the effect of krill oil supplements on plasma lipids. Study selection: Randomized controlled trials that investigated the impact of at least 2 weeks of supplementation with krill oil on plasma/serum concentrations of at least one of the main lipid parameters (ie, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides) and that reported sufficient information on plasma/serum lipid levels at baseline and at the end of study in both krill oil and control groups were eligible for inclusion. Data extraction: Two reviewers independently extracted the following data: first author's name, year of publication, study location, study design, number of participants in the krill oil and control groups, dosage of krill oil, type of control allocation, treatment duration, demographic characteristics of study participants, and baseline and follow-up plasma concentrations of lipids. Effect size was expressed as the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: Meta-analysis of data from 7 eligible trials (14 treatment arms) with 662 participants showed a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD, -15.52 mg/dL; 95%CI, -28.43 to -2.61; P = 0.018) and triglycerides (WMD, -14.03 mg/dL; 95%CI, -21.38 to -6.67; P < 0.001) following supplementation with krill oil. A significant elevation in plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also observed (WMD, 6.65 mg/dL; 95%CI, 2.30 to 10.99; P = 0.003), while a reduction in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol did not reach statistical significance (WMD, -7.50 mg/dL; 95%CI, -17.94 to 2.93; P = 0.159). Conclusion: Krill oil supplementation can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Additional clinical studies with more participants are needed to assess the impact of krill oil supplementation on other indices of cardiometabolic risk and on the risk of cardiovascular outcomes.
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Krill oil supplementation significantly reduces LDL-C (−0.4 mmol/L) and TG (−0.16 mmol/L) and increases HDL-C (0.17 mmol/L).
“Ursoniu et al. showed a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of LDL-C [− 0.4 mmol/L (− 15.52 mg/dL); 95% CI: − 0.73; − 0.07 mmol/L (− 28.43; − 2.61 mg/dL); p = 0.018], TG [− 0.16 mmol/L (− 14.03 mg/dL); 95% CI: − 0.24; − 0.08 mmol/L (− 21.38; − 6.67 mg/dL)], and significant elevation in plasma concentrations of HDL-C [0.17 mmol/L (6.65 mg/dL); 95% CI: 0.06; 0.28 mmol/L (2.30; 10.99 mg/dL”
From Nutraceuticals in the Management of Dyslipidemia: Which, When, and for Whom? Could Nutraceuticals Help Low-Risk Individuals with Non-optimal Lipid Levels? (2021) · cites this paper as [86]
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- Authors
- Ursoniu, S., Sahebkar, A., Serban, M.-C., Antal, D., Mikhailidis, D. P., Cicero, A., Athyros, V., Rizzo, M., Rysz, J., & Banach, M.
- Affiliations
- Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Banach, Maciej
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nutrition Reviews
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-03-22
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 361-373
- ISSN
- 0029-6643 (ISSN-L)
- 1753-4887
- OpenAlex
- W2598330370
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nutrition Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Edible Oils Quality and Analysis
- Keywords
- krill oil, omega-3 fatty acids, plasma lipids, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, dietary supplementation, cardiovascular risk, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, omega-3 index, n-6/n-3 ratio
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dietary Fats, Unsaturated, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Dietary Supplements, Euphausiacea, Lipid Metabolism
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