Getting old is hard. Muscles start wasting away and it is difficult to maintain your mental sharpness as well. However, a new study led by the University of Glasgow has shown that krill oil food supplements may help people over 65 years of age to maintain a better muscle function and size. Just after six months scientists noticed clinically significant increases in muscle function and size.
Krill oil is a popular dietary supplement, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and phospholipid-derived fatty acids. Image credit: Øystein Paulsen via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Krill oil is rich in phospholipid-derived fatty acids (PLFA) and omega-3 fatty acids. It is a little bit similar to fish oil, but krill oil has more bioavailable choline, which is an essential nutrient for people. Essentially, krill oil, which is prepared from a species of Antarctic krill, is stronger and better than fish oil, although more expensive.
A new blind, controlled trial included 102 men and women all above 65 years of age. All participants had to be healthy so that scientists could minimise variables and observe the impact of krill oil on muscle function and size. However, participants of this study were also relatively inactive physically – they engaged in less than one hour of exercise per week. This is way below what is recommended, but pretty much on par with an average 65 year old person.
Participants were divided into two groups. The first one received four grams per day of Superba krill oil, while the second one (the control group) was given placebo. Scientists noticed significant changes at the end of six months. First of all, participants in the krill oil group showed an increase in thigh muscle strength (9.3%), grip strength (10.9%) and thigh muscle thickness (3.5%) compared to the placebo group. Other biological measures improved as well. For example, krill oil group participants had more omega-3 fatty acids in their red blood cells.
Scientists believe that these results show that krill oil may help ageing people to maintain their muscle, which is important for mobility and overall quality of life. Dr Stuart Gray, one of the authors of the study, said: “This is yet another a strong indication that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are important nutrients for adults as we age, and we are keen to investigate this further, particularly whether this could be a useful treatment for those who already have muscle weakness.” EPA and DHA are two omega-3 fatty acids present in krill oil.
Everyone gets weaker as they age. You will get older and you will notice some muscle mass leaving your body. As our population ages, it is extremely important to help people maintain their mobility and independence. Krill oil supplements seem to be a good way to do that, even if more research is definitely needed.
Source: University of Glasgow