Supplementing with krill oil may help to ameliorate symptoms of mild knee osteoarthritis in older adults, new study conducted by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, concludes.
 
A six-month human clinical trial involving 235 healthy men and women between the ages of 40 and 65 found that those who took a daily krill oil supplement experienced significant benefits in measures of knee pain, stiffness, and physical function compared to a group which was administered a placebo.
 
At the study onset, it was determined that each participant had low habitual amounts of omega-3 fatty acid in their diets, and were not taking fish oil supplements. Each received a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants were randomized to receive either a placebo or a daily supplement containing four grams of krill oil per day for six months, with participants assessed at baseline, three months, and six months. Each serving provided 880 mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 450 mcg of astaxanthin.
 
Using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) numeric scale, the researchers determined that scores for knee pain, as well as the domains of knee stiffness and physical function, improved significantly compared to the placebo group. Further, the omega-3 index level average for the krill oil group rose from 6.0% at baseline to 8.9% at three months and 9% at six months.
 
“Four years in the making, this clinical trial represents the largest, longest, and highest-dose study to date investigating the effects of krill oil on osteoarthritis of the knee,” said Dr. Welma Stonehouse, CSIRO principal research scientist.
 
“We are very happy with the results from this well-executed trial,” said Line Johnsen, vice president of science and regulatory affairs at Aker BioMarine, the ingredient supplier of the krill oil used in the study population (Superba Boost). “Not only did Superba Boost krill oil phospholipids significantly reduce knee pain, but it also improved stiffness and the physical function of the knee. An additional interesting findings in the study was that the participants with the greatest level of inflammation at the start of the study were the ones that had the biggest pain improvement. It is great to have an alternative treatment, without side effects, for people suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee.”
 
“We are very pleased to have brought together high-quality partners from supply chain, research, and industry to build a research collaboration that is not only scientifically meaningful, but also commercially valuable for all involved,” said Nick Mann, CEO for Swisse’s parent company H&H Group. Swisse, which sponsored the study, uses Superba Boost in a finished product called Swisse High Strength Deep Sea Krill Oil.