Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies provide evidence that krill oil supplementation may strengthen skin barrier function, hydration, and elasticity in healthy adults. The findings appear together in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
 
The primary impact in each study was to examine how, at different dosages, krill oil may prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL), a measure of skin barrier function, along with metrics of skin hydration, elasticity, and the omega-3 index. In the first study, 51 people took one gram of Aker BioMarine’s Superba Boost krill oil or a placebo daily, while in the second study, 50 participants took two grams of the same ingredient or a placebo daily, and outcomes were assessed at baseline, and again at six and 12 weeks.
 
Supplementation with both one and two grams of krill oil daily significantly improved all measures of skin health assessed, compared to the placebo. These results were linearly correlated with dose-dependent increases of omega-3 index in red blood cells.
 
“For years we have looked at how krill oil, with its phospholipids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, can positively impact skin health,” said Katina Handeland, PhD, director of R&D for human nutrition at Aker BioMarine, a supplier of krill oil which co-led the study with a scientist from the UK-based University of Sunderland.
 
“The skin is the body’s largest organ, and its health and hydration rely on lipid and ceramide levels, which are influenced by nutrition,” Handeland continued. “Omega-3 EPA and DHA modulate the lipid composition of skin cell membranes and their associated lipid mediators, thereby supporting skin barrier function. Phospholipids have a unique molecular function enabling them to both attract and repel water, which enables them to retain water within the skin. Additionally, both dietary essential fatty acids and phospholipids have shown to give a positive impact on skin ceramide levels, which are known to decline with age. The positive results in these two trials help validate evidence from previous research by showing the positive impact krill oil has in improving skin barrier function and moisture retention.”
 
Krill oil, which boasts a high content of phospholipids, EPA, DHA, choline, and astaxanthin, has a profile of several nutrients evidenced to support the skin’s barrier, Aker BioMarine noted. Phospholipids contribute to the integrity and structure of the cells, while delivering nutrients to cells throughout the body. EPA and DHA aid in supporting the hydration and elasticity of the skin, while also modulating inflammatory response.
 
Krill oil may protect the skin from UV radiation by affecting genes responsible for producing hyaluronic acid and collagen, Aker BioMarine reported, aiding in the prevention of wrinkles and maintenance of skin moisture.
 
“In healthy skin, there is a balance between the water content and the amount of water passing through the skin,” said Lena Burri, director of R&D for human nutrition. “The skin acts as a protective barrier between the body’s internal environment and the external world. Healthy skin is influenced by a complex interaction of many internal and external factors. Supplementing with krill oil will help giving the skin the daily boost it needs.”