Until a few years ago, fish oil was used only on medical advice because of its high content of omegas 3, 6 and 9. These fatty acids benefit cardiovascular health at high levels, have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the level of triglycerides. They also participate in the strengthening of veins and arteries and in keeping the blood free of clots, so they can be related to the prevention of thrombosis, embolisms and strokes.

These conditions are associated with controlled medical treatments, reason why the consumer was limited to look for products with this component, however, the studies of the last decade have allowed to consider fish oil as a preventive alternative, not as a treatment for any condition, but, are krill oil and fish oil the same?

No, it is different from fish oil

Starting with the source from which each one is extracted, since commercial fish oil is extracted from the so-called blue fish, such as tuna, herring, mackerel, salmon or trout, whereas krill is a crustacean only 5 or 6 centimeters long that lives in huge shoals and feeds on seaweed and small forms of life from the bottom of the oceans.

What does krill oil contain?

What is relevant here are the reasons why it has become a trend in recent years, starting from its high concentrations of phospholipids, far from its omega-3 content, for example.

Phospholipids are involved in the correct development of brain functions and in controlling fat and lipids in the blood, avoiding (as well as fish oil) clots and triggering problems that threaten our health.

In addition to this, it has been demonstrated through different studies that krill oil has, with better bioavailability compared to fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are also involved in the proper functioning of the brain and even influence immune health (this is a plus). This means that the body absorbs them better and faster, giving the organism the advantage of taking advantage of these compounds that

As of 2020, the value of the global krill market was 235.8 million, but decreased by more than 5% due to disruptions in its supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it continues to position itself during this 2022 and its value has increased to just over 240.1 million.

But what is driving demand this year?

Factors such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and other disorders benefit from krill oil and its properties. It has also been shown to be involved in eye health and, most interestingly, it has been shown to reduce the risk of developing autism, cerebral palsy and ADHD by improving brain health during pregnancy and early life.

In addition, the increase of chronic degenerative diseases in the population of older adults has led them to seek alternatives to medications to alleviate such ailments to maintain their health. This segment in particular is looking for different options to consume these preventive alternatives, therefore, it is estimated that liquid presentations will lead this market, followed by soft capsules or softgels and finally, traditional capsules.

Liquid products are more suitable for babies and elderly people because they reduce choking problems associated with tablets (or so say those who prefer to take krill oil in juices or supplementary drinks), while capsules maintain sensitive substances, facilitate combinations with other components and ensure the supply of fats and fat-soluble nutrients (main agents of krill oil).

North America has been the world leader in terms of krill oil consumption, followed by Europe and Asia, and the leading brands in the global industry of this component will be the ones betting on these markets by offering their current consumers these products with other benefits.