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Old 03-07-2011, 12:37 PM
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Default Krill Oil - Will 500 mg Do Anything?

500 mg a day seems like a very small amount. Will that do anything?

I understand krill oil has great stuff in it, but 500 mg in comparison to the amount grams we eat everyday is extremely tiny. Less than a percentage of 1 percent.

Can that really change your health? I'm about to buy some for my dad, but i want to get yall's opinion first.

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Old 03-07-2011, 01:50 PM
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My Krill Oil says the recommended dosage is 1,000 mg a day.

It can make a difference, but it is more to prevent problems than curing anything. Dry skin improvement and more stable mental state is what I noticed.

You may notice something similar, but nothing that really jumps out at you.

Dan
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Old 03-07-2011, 02:34 PM
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If he is not on coumadin, give him 500 mg a day along with a fish oil supplement.
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Old 03-07-2011, 03:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saved1986 View Post
If he is not on coumadin, give him 500 mg a day along with a fish oil supplement.
and a fish oil supplement?

I thought krill was supposed to take the place of fish oil?
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Old 03-07-2011, 06:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by limitme View Post
and a fish oil supplement?

I thought krill was supposed to take the place of fish oil?
It is an omega 3 supplement, but pricey.
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Old 03-09-2011, 06:01 AM
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I take 1000mg of Krill Oil daily. Dr Mercola reco's this as does Dr Cutler.

https://www.purekrillmega3.com is offering a special w/free shipping. This works out to 35 cents per capsule.
Or you might want to call 1-800-746-4513 Preferred Customer savings code is TPK2113
It has an ORAC of 378 where Fish oil's ORAC is only 8.
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Old 03-16-2011, 07:43 AM
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Just a quick note to this thread - it is far more effective to cut back on omega 6 intake, and eat fish regularly. I recently learnt that most fish types have a lot of selenium too, which binds any available mercury.

Your krill oil will be "lost in the mist" if you still consume vegetable oils, nuts and seeds in abundance (or foods that are heavily reliant on them).

Best advantage of krill oil is its astaxanthin content which protects against rancidity.
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Old 03-16-2011, 10:53 AM
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Arrow Krill Oil Research

It seems like 500mg is definitely worth taking, here's an excellent article on krill oil from the HealthyFellow blog.

Quote:
Krill Oil Research

July 3, 2009 Written by JP

When selecting nutritional supplements we all strive to use the most effective products available. But what should we base that determination on? One option is to ask others about their personal experiences. This is commonly referred to as anecdotal evidence. Another source of data can be found in the scientific literature. Here we�re trusting that researchers are performing well designed and impartial research in a more controlled manner. Since these types of studies typically involve larger groups of people, the results may apply to broad segments of the population. But there�s another very prevalent manner of learning about dietary supplements and that is information provided by the manufacturers themselves. My contention is that we ought to examine all three sources of input. Ask questions of your colleagues, family and friends. Read the product literature provided by nutraceutical companies and pose any inquires that you might have. Finally, investigate whether modern science has produced any evidence to back up the other two sources. I�ll apply this model to examine an area of debate that�s currently active in the natural health community: Is krill oil superior to fish oil?

Krill oil is a supplemental source of powerful antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and phosholipids derived from tiny crustaceans harvested largely in the Southern Ocean waters of the Antarctic. Krill oil proponents claim that it is essentially a superior form of omega-3s. Krill contain a rather unique reddish antioxidant called astaxanthin, and they�re also rich in phospholipids, which help emulsify fatty acids and enhance their absorption and retention.

A new study presented in the Journal of Nutrition appears to support this point of view. Research conducted in a group of overweight rats found that krill oil provoked a 42% decrease in fat (triglyceride) build-up in the hearts of the test rats. Fish oil only lead to a marginal decline in cardio-lipids of 2%. When the authors of the study examined the livers of these animals, they discovered a 60% reduction in fat in their livers, as opposed to 38% in the livers of rats fed fish oil. The normalization of fat content in the heart and liver indicate potential benefits to overall heart function and an improvement in insulin sensitivity, which can be impaired in cases of fatty liver disease. In addition, the krill oil test subjects exhibited positive changes associated with a reduced �inflammatory response�. (1,2)

A study from 2008 demonstrated anti-cancer and heart benefits in relation to krill oil (KO) supplementation. In that trial, rats who were fed KO showed weight loss and a drop in LDL �bad� cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The scientists also tested krill oil in an in-vitro model of colon cancer. The scientists concluded that, �Treatment of colon cancer cells with KO also resulted in time-dependent inhibition of cell growth�. (3)


Krill oil has also been evaluated in other health conditions as well. The results of those studies have all been positive and, in a roundabout way, can be applied to what we currently know about heart disease.
  • In 2007, a paper was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 90 participants with heart disease and/or arthritis (osteo or rheumatoid) with elevated CRP (C-reactive protein) levels were provided with KO or a placebo for a 30 day period. CRP is a measure of inflammation in the body. By the 7th day of treatment with KO (300 mg daily), there was a 19% drop in CRP levels. The placebo group exhibited a 16% increase in CRP. By the 30th day of treatment, there was a 31% reduction in CRP in the krill oil group and a 32% rise in CRP in the placebo group. In the arthritic patients, there were significant improvements in pain and stiffness scores, and a trend towards �reduced functional impairment�. (4)
  • A 2003 study on 70 women with PMS and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) found that those taking KO for a total of 90 days demonstrated reduced discomfort, pain and emotional symptoms relating to PMS. This experiment compared equal dosages of KO vs. fish oil � 2 grams daily for the first 30 days and then 2 grams daily for 8 days prior to menstruation and during the first 2 days of the menstrual cycle. (5)
Chronic inflammation is now believed to be a contributing factor in many cancers and cardiovascular disease. The fact that KO appears to reduce inflammatory markers and symptoms may provide a clue to part of its cardioprotective effect. A human trial from 2004 is perhaps the strongest piece of evidence that supports the krill/heart health link. That study produced a profoundly positive shift in cardiovascular risk factors in a group of 120 volunteers. A starting KO dosage of 500 mg daily reduced blood sugar levels, LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides, and raised the beneficial HDL cholesterol in the participants. The men and women who were given fish oil didn�t fare nearly as well. (6)
There are several other important factors to consider when comparing fish oil and krill oil. Preliminary studies going back to the mid 90s demonstrate that krill oil appears to be safe. (7) However, some manufacturers and health authorities caution that those with severe shellfish allergies should discuss krill oil with their physicians prior to usage. It�s also important to note that fish oil has been studied extensively over the past several decades. Literally thousands of research papers have been published on the health effects of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Fewer than 10 studies on krill oil have been presented in peer reviewed medical journals.

When I looked over all of the reliable data I could find about krill oil, I came to the following conclusion. Krill oil seems to be an extremely promising antioxidant/omega-3 supplement. Substantial evidence suggests that the astaxanthin content of krill largely contributes to its net effect. (8,9,10) Astaxanthin is the same carotenoid that gives wild salmon its pink hue. But there may also be something to the phospholipid content of this crustacean. That�s the only explanation I�ve found as to why a lower dosage of KO could produce equal or greater effects than higher dosages of fish oil.

Be forewarned: Krill oil can be quite expensive. The real question is how much you�ll need to take to derive the same benefits as I�ve reported here. If you need a lower dosage, such as 500 mg, then it can be relatively affordable. But some users may require larger quantities (2-3 grams a day). The best deal I�ve found online costs roughly $20 for 90 (500mg) softgels. I think at that price, it�s certainly worth a shot for anyone who might benefit from it. I also think that KO may be an attractive alternative, because krill softgels are typically smaller in size and have a milder aroma. The issue of smell and taste can be further helped by freezing the KO and swallowing the frozen capsules. This is a good technique for taking any softgels with a strong after-taste.

Update: March 1, 2010 - Recent Internet reports about supposed �krill oil dangers� do not appear to be coming from reliable sources. I�ve been keeping a close eye on the scientific literature and I haven�t found any evidence of new concerns regarding krill.
Be well!
JP
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Old 03-19-2011, 08:34 AM
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With so much of our seafood being contaminated these days & unfit to eat & pricey as well,
I can see no way to get enough Omega 3's from seafood consumption. Dr.
Mercola is offering free shipping
on purchase of any of his products. I use Mercola's Krill oil for women. He now has a special offer on Krills too.
Free shipping deals on any sites offering products we use/need cuts the cost even more.
I've probably save over $60.00 in shipping alone on recent orders from Vitacost, Mercola and
The Vermont Country Store.
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Old 03-19-2011, 09:55 AM
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I also use Dr. Mercola's Krill Oil.

I think he is pretty picky about what he sells, and that is one reason I use it.

He also puts out a lot of interesting public information, so I think it is good to support what he does.

Dan
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