5 Krill Oil Supplements to Rejuvenate Your Joints

By: DTW Health Advisory Board

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what to avoid?

what to look for?

How To Pick A Good Omega-3 Krill Oil
Supplement & Avoid The Junk

With so many options, many of us might still be unclear about what to look for in a quality omega-3 krill oil supplement. To help cut through the clutter, we have compiled months of research about which are the key ingredients that have been shown in studies to benefit your joints, heart, and overall cognitive health.

This short guide will help you know what to look for and what to avoid so you can make an informed decision when it comes to your omega-3 needs.

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Health Benefits of Omega-3 Krill Oil

Support joint health

A 2018 clinical study found that supplementing with Antarctic krill oil strengthened joint cartilage structure and helped with the expression of genes that were harmful to overall joint health.³

Support healthy bones

A clinical study involving 65 older adults found omega-3 fatty acids were able to promote lumbar bone density and calcium absorption.⁴

Help support brain function

Studies have recently revealed that the polyunsaturated fatty acids in krill oil can help boost the production of choline, an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and healthy brain function.⁵

Boost mood

Researchers have recognized an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 in patients experiencing mood issues. Krill oil rich in omega-3 can help re-balance the levels of omega-3 and omega-6 in the body, resulting in an ease in stress.^6,7

Support heart health

A clinical study of participants with type 2 diabetes determined that krill oil promotes ideal HDL levels, the “good” cholesterol and protects the heart.⁸

Support Skin Health

The skin is the body’s largest organ, relying on omega-3 to maintain its structure and function. Omega-3 fatty acids have properties that can help ease redness, help improve skin elasticity, help smooth the appearance of wrinkles, and help promote a more youthful-looking complexion.⁹

Support weight management

Omega-3 fatty acids may help provide a sense of fullness, resulting in satiety, as well as increasing metabolism to help support weight loss.^10,11

health benefits of omega-3 krill oil

Support joint health

A 2018 clinical study found that supplementing with Antarctic krill oil strengthened joint cartilage structure and helped with the expression of genes that were harmful to overall joint health³

Support healthy bones

A clinical study involving 65 older adults found omega-3 fatty acids were able to promote lumbar bone density and calcium absorption⁴

Help support brain function

Studies have recently revealed that the polyunsaturated fatty acids in krill oil can help boost the production of choline, an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and healthy brain function⁵

Boost mood

Researchers have recognized an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 in patients experiencing mood issues. Krill oil rich in omega-3 can help re-balance the levels of omega-3 and omega-6 in the body, resulting in an ease in stress^6,7

Support heart health

A clinical study of participants with type 2 diabetes determined that krill oil promotes ideal HDL levels, the “good” cholesterol and protects the heart.⁸

Support Skin Health

The skin is the body’s largest organ, relying on omega-3 to maintain its structure and function. Omega-3 fatty acids have properties that can help ease redness, help improve skin elasticity, help smooth the appearance of wrinkles, and help promote a more youthful-looking complexion.⁹

Support weight management

Omega-3 fatty acids may help provide a sense of fullness, resulting in satiety, as well as increasing metabolism to help support weight loss.^10,11

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4 Things To AVOID

When Buying A Krill Oil Supplement

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1. not sourced from the antarctic ocean

Most oceans today are filled with harmful levels of mercury and PCBs, which are incredibly toxic human-made chemicals that come from industrial use.¹² Avoid any krill oil supplement that does not explicitly list where the krill used originates. Look for a krill oil brand that sources the krill oil from the pristine Antarctic Ocean. It is one of the last oceans in the world to be free of these harmful toxins.

For your peace of mind, we recommend looking for a traceability feature on the bottle of your krill oil. Many premium brands now include a QR code on the bottle. By scanning this code, you can verify the exact location in the Antarctic Ocean where the krill oil you’re buying originated. This level of transparency ensures you’re getting the highest quality product.

2. uncoated softgels

A common complaint from krill oil users is related to the fishy taste of uncoated softgels. Avoid bargain-basement brands that use cheap uncoated softgels. Some consumer-focused brands have started offering krill oil softgels that have a natural lemon oil coating. We prefer these kinds as they eliminate any fishy taste and help to ensure that nothing will stand in your way of sticking to your essential omega-3 daily regimen.

3. relying on amazon reviews

Research showed that in March 2019, there were 1.8 million new unverified reviews, with an average of 99.6% of them being 5-star reviews.¹³

We can suspect many of these reviews are from people paid to write them. We can also suspect many of these fake reviews inflate the number and overall star rating of a product. When deciding on a supplement that can impact your health, don’t just rely on Amazon reviews as they don’t always show the true benefits of a product or if that customer actually purchased and used the product.

4. insufficient return policy

A reputable krill oil supplement brand will demonstrate they have faith in their product by offering a 100% money-back guarantee policy. Some try to complicate their refund policies by placing limitations on what kind of returns they will take. Avoid any brand that does not have at minimum a no-questions-asked 90-day money-back guarantee.

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Krill Oil

Better Absorption

Our bodies have a much easier time absorbing krill oil compared to fish oil. When these oils enter our body, they need to be absorbed by our fat cells, which are phospholipid-based. As nature might have it, the fatty acids in krill oil are also in the phospholipid form, allowing krill oil to be more readily absorbed. Fish oil’s fatty acids are in the form of triglycerides, making it harder for the body to absorb.¹⁴

Much Less Contamination

The EPA has sounded the alarm that most of the world’s oceans have become polluted with high levels of mercury and toxic PCBs, which are human-made chemicals from industrial complexes that have seeped into the waters.¹⁵

Fish oil is harvested from large fish that eat smaller fish. This accumulation of toxins in larger fish can be potentially harmful to fish oil users. On the other hand, krill have short life spans. They don’t feed on other fish, allowing them to have very minimal levels of potential mercury or PCB contamination.¹⁶

Astaxanthin

A significant advantage that krill oil holds over fish oil is that krill oil contains astaxanthin, and fish does not. Astaxanthin, a highly potent antioxidant, has been shown in numerous clinical studies to help ease joint discomfort and protect against oxidative stress while also promoting healthy blood flow, endurance, and heart health.¹⁷

No Fish Burps

Fish oil supplements give users the dreaded fish burps. Krill oil has none of that aftertaste as it is water-soluble, allowing it to blend with our stomach fluids easily, and you get to avoid the fish burps.

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Top 3 Criteria For A Quality

Krill Oil Supplement

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Below are the three most essential elements to consider before deciding which krill oil brand is best for your needs.

#1 Clinically Studied Krill Oil

What you put in your body is essential, so we recommend going a step beyond selecting a krill oil sourced from the Antarctic Ocean. Look for a brand that also uses a clinically tested form of krill oil, which has been shown to deliver the highest level of results. These are typically superior forms of krill oil that go through a more complex extraction process resulting in higher purity, freshness, and increased absorption power.

#2 Dosage

Experiencing the full effect of your krill oil depends on the dosage. We have seen some popular brands have less than optimal dosages. Look for a supplement with at least 1,600 mg of pure krill oil and 500 mg of phospholipids per serving.

#3 Amount of Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin does not come cheap. Manufacturers try to cut costs by including small amounts of this important antioxidant. Supplement labels can be confusing with amounts of some ingredients listed as milligrams (mg) and others as micrograms (mcg). To help clarify, 1 mg = 1,000 mcg. We recommend looking for a supplement with at least 2 mg (2,000 mcg) of astaxanthin per serving.

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How We Evaluated Our
Krill Oil Recommendations

clean, natural, science-backed ingredients

We looked for natural, clean, and science-backed ingredients. As well as formulas without additives, capsule colorants, and dyes. As well as manual processes that don’t use chemical solvents.

origin of krill oil

Where krill oil originates from is important. We looked for brands that sourced krill from the pristine Antarctic Ocean.

dosage

We noticed some brands don’t have the required dosage to substantiate listed claims and benefits. We looked for brands that included and listed ingredients at the dosage necessary to be clinically impactful.

ease

When choosing a supplement, we know it will become part of your everyday routine, so it needs to be easy, and enjoyable. We looked for a reasonable capsule serving per day (Two or fewer), an enjoyable taste, and a 60-day or more satisfaction guarantee.

transparency

To ensure you’re getting the highest quality, we looked for brands that were transparent about everything from where they sourced their krill to their extraction process

2024 Krill Oil Buying Guide

Advertisement sponsored by Stingray Direct, the distributor of Stonehenge Health products.

Stonehenge Health Krill Oil Supplement Bottle

stonehenge health^®
dynamic krill oil

researched & approved

Pros

1,600 mg Clinically Studied Pure Antarctic Krill Oil with 174 mg of EPA & 120 mg of DHA

550 mg of Phospholipids

2 mg of Astaxanthin

Non-GMO, Gluten Free, & Antibiotic Free, No artificial ingredients or fillers

Easy to Swallow Lemon Oil Coated Softgels

Verified 90-day 100% money-back return policy

Cons

Often out of stock due to high demand

why we approved

Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Krill Oil uses a high-quality and clinically studied form of krill oil. We were impressed with the potency of each dose being 1,600 mg of krill oil with 550 mg of phospholipids, 174 mg of EPA, and 120 mg of DHA.

Plus, the bottle contains a QR code that gives the exact location of where the krill oil originated in the Antarctic Ocean.

In reviewing dozens of krill oil brands, we found that most offer a minimal amount of the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin. Stonehenge Health had one of the highest amounts of astaxanthin we came across with 2 mg, the equivalent of 2,000 mcg.

Krill oil is very susceptible to spoilage and deterioration, which is why, much like fish oil, lower-quality products have a foul odor, indicating spoilage. Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Krill Oil goes through a patented MSO™ Multi-Stage Oil Extraction Process, which ensures the highest quality and stability. This process allows their formula to have the least odor and highest phospholipid, EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin levels of all the products we reviewed.

We were able to verify that Stonehenge Health’s formula does not contain any synthetic fillers or artificial ingredients, is non-GMO, and is free of gluten, soy, and preservatives. Stonehenge Health backs its products with a no-questions-asked, 90-day money-back guarantee and is one of the few brands to be endorsed by a board-certified doctor. We also like that they offer customers discounts on bundles. Click on the link below to see their current specials.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

find out more >

captains krill oil

researched

Pros

Title

1,000 mg of Antarctic Krill Oil with 155 mg of EPA & 95 mg of DHA

440 mg of Phospholipids

1.55 mg of Astaxanthin

Non-GMO, No Gluten, artificial ingredients, or fillers

180-day money-back return policy

Cons

Title

Lower than an optimal amount of krill oil

Very expensive for generic krill oil

Lack of information related to manual processing

User complaints of digestive discomfort

Captains Krill Oil is a popular brand that delivers 1,000 mg of generic krill oil and 435 mg of phospholipids. We were happy to see that this krill oil is sourced from the Antarctic Ocean. This product was the most expensive product we reviewed, costing $59.95 for a 30-day supply. This pricing surprised us, considering it has between 15-60% lower amounts of krill oil, EPA, DHA, phospholipids, and astaxanthin than the first recommended brand on our list. We liked that Captains Krill Oil states that they manually process the krill oil and do not use chemical solvents. However, we could not verify the process and procedures used other than their marketing material, stating they use a manual method. The company does offer a generous 180-day return policy. Some users have complained about an upset stomach from taking the product. Captains Krill Oil formula comes in at a close second to the top-ranked brand on our list.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information. Captains Krill Oil is a registered trademark of Rag Tag Health, LLC

find out more >

megared ultra strength
1000mg krill oil

researched

Pros

Title

1,000 mg of Antarctic Krill Oil

Uses process to remove salts and impurities

One easy to swallow soft gel cap

No fishy aftertaste

Cons

Title

Low levels of EPA and DHA (only 128 mg of EPA, 60 mg of DHA)

Less than 500 mg of phospholipids (only 334 mg)

Only 50 mcg of Astaxanthin, much lower than the recommended 2,000 mcg

Limited 30-day return policy plus a restocking fee

MegaRed by Schiff is a popular krill oil that stakes its claim of having higher purity based upon its process of removing salts and other impurities. Their Ultra Strength 1000mg is their most potent krill oil formula, sourced from the Antarctic Ocean, but it seems to fall short by only offering 128 mg of EPA, 60 mg of DHA, and 334 mg of phospholipids per serving. This is about half the amount that our top-listed brand provides. As well as only 50 mcg of Astaxanthin.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information. MegaRed is a registered trademark of RB HEALTH (US) LLC

find out more >

nativepath antarctic krill oil

researched

Pros

Title

Antarctic Krill Oil

0.20 mg of Astaxanthin

Cons

Title

Low potency per serving, only 500 mg with 30 mg of EPA & 20 mg of DHA, and 95 mg of Phospholipids )

Expensive for only 30 softgels

Limited 90-day money-back return policy

NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil contains 500 mg of generic krill oil and 95 mg of phospholipids. We liked that this brand claims that their product is wild-caught and sustainable. However, all krill oil coming from the Antarctic Ocean would be wild-caught and sustainable. Our biggest issue with this formula is that it lacks potency. At only 500 mg per serving, it falls very short of the other brands with as high as 1,600 mg of pure krill oil. You would need to take three servings of NativePath’s product to come close to one serving offered by the first brand on our list. NativePath provides a 90-day refund period, but that is only for unopened bottles, which is not much of a guarantee if you find that you’re unhappy with the results.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information. Native Path is a registered trademark of NATIVEPATH, LLC

find out more >

omegaxl by great health works

researched

Pros

Title

Patented omega-3 green-lipped mussel

Contains natural olive oil and vitamin E

Cons

Title

Require 8 capsules daily to match the amount used in studies

Triglyceride bound omega-3 has much lower absorption

Many consumer complaints regarding difficulty canceling the required monthly auto-ship program.

Made famous by their paid celebrity endorser, Larry King, Omega XL uses a patented green lipid mussel as its source of omega-3. A dive into the clinical research reveals that a daily serving of Omega XL has 2 capsules, which only contains a meager 32 mg of EPA and 39 mg of DHA. Compare that to the first brand, which has 225 mg of EPA and 135 mg of EPA. The part that makes omega-3 essential is the EPA and DHA fatty acids. You would need to take 7 servings of Omega XL to match the EPA found in any of our top 3 listed brands. Add to the fact that they have many consumer complaints, and a limited return policy.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information. OmegaXL is a registered trademark of Great Health Works, Inc.

find out more >

Citations

5 Krill Oil Supplements to Rejuvenate Your Joints

How To Pick A Good Omega-3 Krill Oil Supplement & Avoid The Junk

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Krill Oil

Support joint health

Support healthy bones

Help support brain function

Boost mood

Support heart health

Support Skin Health

Support weight management

health benefits of omega-3 krill oil

4 Things To AVOID

When Buying A Krill Oil Supplement

1. not sourced from the antarctic ocean

2. uncoated softgels

3. relying on amazon reviews

4. insufficient return policy

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Krill Oil

Better Absorption

Much Less Contamination

Astaxanthin

No Fish Burps

Top 3 Criteria For A Quality

Krill Oil Supplement

#1 Clinically Studied Krill Oil

#2 Dosage

#3 Amount of Astaxanthin

How We Evaluated Our Krill Oil Recommendations

clean, natural, science-backed ingredients

origin of krill oil

dosage

ease

transparency

2024 Krill Oil Buying Guide

Pros

Cons

why we approved

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

How To Pick A Good Omega-3 Krill Oil
Supplement & Avoid The Junk

How We Evaluated Our
Krill Oil Recommendations