Thinking about trying krill oil but not sure where to start? The omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil are good for your body in so many ways. In fact, krill oil may be one of the best ways to supplement your daily omega-3 intake because researchers believe the essential fatty acids in krill oil may be absorbed by your body much more easily than the omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Plus, with krill oil, you get the added benefits of astaxanthin.

 

When considering how much krill oil to take, it’s important to understand the nutrients within krill oil supplements that provide most of the benefits, because it’s the amounts of these nutrients in your supplements that you’ll want to monitor. The benefits of krill oil come from a few primary nutrients - the omega-3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), the carotenoid astaxanthin, and phospholipids.

 

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 

 

The essential fatty acid EPA may help support the health of your brain, heart, mood and vision.

 

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

 

DHA is essential for the healthy development and function of the brain and is reported to have similar benefits related to heart health, mood and behavioral support as EPA.

 

Astaxanthin

 

Astaxanthin may provide antioxidant support for the eyes,skin and liver helping to protect against free radical damage and UVA exposure. It also may help support healthy joints and healthy blood lipid levels.

 

Phospholipids

 

Krill oil also contains naturally-occurring phospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, which may support brain health and may help the body absorb the EPA and DHA in krill oil more efficiently.

 

How Much Krill Oil Should I Take?

 

Deciding how much krill oil to take can seem a little less clear than with some other nutrients. There are no minimum intake guidelines available from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) specifically for krill oil.  

 

The NIH says that “consuming EPA and DHA directly from foods and dietary supplements is the only practical way to increase levels of these fatty acids in the body.” 

 

The FDA does, however, recommend keeping your total combined daily intake of EPA and DHA below 3 g day, with no more than 2 g per day of that coming from dietary supplements. However, some clinical trials have exceeded those levels.

 

How Much Krill Oil Should You Take Per Day?

 

The potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, and more specifically EPA and DHA, have been the focus of decades of scientific research on both food and supplemental sources.

Dietary supplements used in the studies have varied between krill oil, fish oil, and nonspecific supplements containing EPA and DHA.  

 

We have listed some details of studies and clinical trials below using EPA and DHA that do not exceed the FDA’s recommended maximum intakes, along with the daily amounts used in those studies.

 

HOW MUCH OMEGA-3 PER DAY & OMEGA-3 BENEFITS

 

• Heart Health

 

Supplementation with 1 g per day of omega-3 fatty acids containing 850-882 mg of EPA and DHA for 3.5 years supported healthy blood lipid levels. Also, early research on astaxanthin (an antioxidant carotenoid found in krill oil) suggests it may help support healthy blood lipids as well.

 

• Cognitive Health

 

Some studies associate diets high in omega-3s with cognitive health. A 2016 study linked an incremental increase of DHA by 100 mg per day with a 14 - 37% decreased risk of some cognitive concerns. And a small trial involving supplements containing 1,290 mg DHA and 450 mg EPA daily for 12 months suggested it may offer some memory support.

 

• Vision Support

 

Observational studies involving people who consume high amounts of fatty fish (which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids) or take omega-3 supplements suggest that omega-3s may support healthy vision. One study involving 2,275 people 65 years and older who ate fatty fish at least once per week had a 53% lower occurrence of vision health concerns.10 For reference, farmed and wild caught salmon, one of the richest food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, contains between 1.22 - 1.24 g of DHA and 0.35-0.59 g of EPA per 3 oz. serving.

 

• Joint Health

 

Studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids may help protect joints.10 But some studies involving joint health have focused on higher amounts of EPA and DHA than the FDA’s recommended maximum.10 If you take krill oil for joint health, make sure you stay under 2 g of combined EPA and DHA per day unless your doctor recommends otherwise.

 

• Mood Support

 

Researchers have not published conclusive evidence of omega-3 fatty acids and mood support but several studies have linked mood concerns with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids.11 So it may be a good idea for people with mood concerns to make sure they are getting enough omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Should You Take Krill Oil in the Morning or at Night?

 

There are no official studies that specify the best time to take krill oil supplements each day. Some people claim that taking your krill oil in the morning may give you an opportunity to gain the advantages of healthy omega-3 fatty acids all day long, but since essential fatty acids build up in your system over time, what time you take it isn’t as important as just remembering to take it each day. If taking krill oil in the morning makes it easier for you to remember to take it, that’s great! Some supplements may upset an empty stomach however, so be sure to eat a healthy meal before taking supplements.

 

The Best Krill Oil Dosage for You

 

Everyone is unique, and the best intake of krill oil for you will depend on several factors, including your age, health and any prescription or over the counter medicines you take. If you take any medications that affect your blood platelets or clotting, talk to your doctor before taking krill oil supplements. Also, you should not take krill oil within two hours of taking weight loss medicines that affect how your body absorbs fat.

 

Most krill oil supplements are available in doses between 500 mg - 1 g per capsule. Here is  our most popular krill oil supplement:

 

100% Pure Krill Oil

 

When we found Superba ™ Krill Oil from Aker Biomarine Antarctic AS, we immediately acknowledged its outstanding bioavailability, which makes it stand out from the rest. Bioavailability shows how fast and to what degree one substance in a drug becomes available to the cell. But we opted for Superba ™krill oil because it is a solution that cares for the environment. Their stable Eco-Harvesting™ technology preserves the ocean and its fragile eco systems, which ranks it among the leading environmentally friendly and responsible fishing practices.