Dietary supplement
Krillzyme Premium Krill Oil
1000 mg of Antarctic krill oil per softgel. The omega-3 arrives bound to phospholipids, and the astaxanthin is what the krill already contained rather than something added at the end.
- 1000 mgKrill oil per softgel
- 250 mgOmega-3 EPA + DHA
- 60Softgels per bottle
- 60 daysAt one per day
What’s actually in the softgel
Krill are small crustaceans that feed on algae in the Southern Ocean. The oil pressed from them differs from fish oil in two ways that matter, and both are structural rather than a matter of dose.
The omega-3 is attached to phospholipids
In fish oil, EPA and DHA are carried as triglycerides — three fatty acids hanging off a glycerol backbone, entirely fat-soluble. In krill oil, a large share is carried on phospholipids instead. A phospholipid has a water-attracting head and fat-attracting tails, which is exactly why it is the molecule cell membranes are built from, and why krill oil disperses in water rather than separating out of it.
Studies comparing the two forms have generally found krill oil raises blood omega-3 levels at least as effectively as fish oil per gram of EPA and DHA, and several found it does so more efficiently. The size of that advantage varies between trials, and it is fair to say the exact margin is still debated. The research is summarised here, including the studies that found no difference.
The astaxanthin comes with it
Astaxanthin is the carotenoid that makes krill, salmon and flamingos pink. In krill oil it is naturally present rather than added, and it does a job in the bottle before it does anything in you: polyunsaturated oils oxidise easily, and astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant that helps the oil stay stable. It is also the reason krill oil doesn’t need the heavy deodorising that gives some fish oils their aftertaste.
The label
Supplement Facts
The same panel that is printed on the back of the bottle, reproduced here so you can read it before you buy rather than after.
Other ingredients
Softgel capsule (bovine gelatin, glycerin, purified water).
Free from
Gluten, soy, GMO ingredients, added colours and added flavours.
How to take it
One softgel daily with a meal. Taking it with food that contains some fat helps absorption. There is no benefit to doubling up — omega-3 status builds gradually over weeks, not hours.
Supplement Facts
| Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 10 | |
| Total Fat | 1 g | 1%* |
| Antarctic Krill Oil (Euphausia superba) | 1000 mg | † |
| Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 250 mg | † |
| EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) | 150 mg | † |
| DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) | 100 mg | † |
| Phospholipids | 240 mg | † |
| Astaxanthin | 100 mcg | † |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.
Before you start
Who shouldn’t take this
A supplement page that only lists upsides isn’t telling you enough to make a decision. These are the situations where krill oil is a bad idea or needs a conversation with your doctor first.
- Shellfish allergy. Krill are crustaceans. If you react to shrimp, crab or lobster, do not take this.
- Blood thinners. Omega-3s can modestly affect platelet aggregation. If you take warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban or similar, talk to your prescriber before adding any omega-3 supplement.
- Surgery. Many surgeons ask patients to stop omega-3 supplements a week or two beforehand. Follow your surgical team’s advice.
- Pregnancy and nursing. Omega-3 intake during pregnancy is generally encouraged, but the right source and dose is a question for your midwife or doctor, not a website.
- Children. This product is formulated for adults.
The common side effects are mild and mostly digestive — a bit of stomach upset or loose stools, usually resolved by taking it with a larger meal.
Where to buy
Krillzyme is between retail listings
We’d rather say that plainly than send you to a dead link. Our previous retail listing has been discontinued and the next one isn’t live yet. Leave an email and we’ll tell you the day it is — one message, no newsletter, and we won’t pass your address to anyone.
Wholesale and trade enquiries are welcome in the meantime — get in touch.