Neptune Krill Oil™ in Woman's World Magazine Is it Too Good to Be True?

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Here are the summaries and excerpts from the studies behind the claims in the article: "The new youth-preserver from under the sea" which appeared in the May 25, 2004 issue of Woman's World Magazine.  

Antiaging ingredient

From Woman's World: "Krill have a unique oil that is rich in omega 3 fatty acid, which repairs aging cells so well, studies show it's up to 300 times more rejuvenating than vitamins A and E!"

This claim was derived from the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) studies, which measure the antioxidant power of various nutrients.  The ORAC Value chart below shows that Krill Oil has an ORAC value which is 300 times as high acai  as either vitamin A or vitamin E. 

Multiple Benefits of Krill

Neptune Krill Oil™ has many benefits. Unlike fish oil products, Neptune Krill Oil™ doesn't contain dangerous levels of mercury or lead, doesn't go rancid quickly and has a clean, fresh taste.

Made from hearty krill, shrimp-like crustaceans that thrive in the harsh Antarctic waters, Neptune Krill Oil™ is the only product to contain phospholipids specially integrated with omega-3 essential fatty acids.  This unique structure provides important cell membrane building blocks in the ratios used by the body and may be far better utilized than standalone phospholipids or omega-3 products.  The result: stronger cell membranes that function better to maintain your health. 

The desirable composition of Neptune Krill Oil™, high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, also provides a healthy balance.  High levels of omega-6 fatty acids, such as from processed foods, enable your cell membranes to initiate over production of certain prostaglandins that can lead to cellular irritation, heart system imbalances and other concerns. But omega-3 fatty acids can reverse that trend. Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids) compete with arachidonic acid for building blocks, such as the COX-2 enzyme, and can instead lead to balanced levels of the many different types of prostaglandins. The result: cellular comfort, heart health and many other healthy body systems.

Neptune Krill Oil™ also contains natural antioxidants, which are cell membrane protectors. Each serving contains 100 IU of vitamin A and a very high level, 1.5 mg, of astaxanthin, an immune-supporting carotenoid, which can be used to guard your cell membranes from free radical damage.  

Support Your Protective Cell Membranes

Neptune Krill Oil™ is the only product to boast significant health­inducing potencies from three different important nutritional categories: omega­3 fatty acids, phospholipids and antioxidants. These three nutrients work together to support healthy cell membranes, joints, the heart and many other body systems. And Neptune Krill Oil eases PMS symptoms for women.

Proven ability to make women feel younger

Woman's World said: "Krill oil is so potent, women who took it for three months reported a 51% boost in energy, alertness, memory, concentration and stamina in a recent Canadian study.  And almost 100% described having a greater sense of well-being and happiness -- plus a 31% reduction in aches and pains!"  

These figures were derived from a quality of life study comparing the benefits of Neptune Krill Oil to Fish Oil.  The quality of life study was done in conjunction with the Phase II clinical trial "Evaluation of the effectiveness of NKO on the clinical management of  Hyperlipidemia."  In the study, 120 participants, including both men and women, took either 1.0 to 1.5 grams of krill oil per day (based on their BMI [body mass index]) or 3.0 grams per day of fish oil.  They took a 36-question standardized survey at the end of 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days.  This survey measured the patients physical function, fatigue, pain, social function, emotional role, mental capacity, general health and physical appearance.  The survey, in use since 1998 and published in over 4,000 different studies, was designed to provide statistically valid results.




Please note that study participants took 2 or 3 -- 500 mg krill oil softgels daily for a period of 90 days to obtain the results reported in Woman's World.  Those with a BMI less than 32 took 2 softgels daily; those with a BMI greater than 32 took 3 softgels daily.

Wrinkle-fighting power

Woman's World reports: "Woman who downed krill oil in clinical trials reported an improvement in the look and feel of their hair, skin and nails, along with a 58% reduction in wrinkling, redness and other skin problems."

This result was obtained in the Hyperlipidemia trial of 120 patients after taking krill oil for a period of 180 days at a dose of 1.5 grams per day (3 - 500 mg softgels per day) for the first 30 days, then 0.5 grams per day (1 softgel) for the remainder of the study period. 



Impressive health benefits

As reported in Woman's World: "Study subjects who started taking krill saw their levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol plunge 44% and their triglycerides drop 20%, while levels of artery-clearing HDLs soared 38%. That's enough to cut your heart attack risk in half!"

From the study "Evaluation of the effectiveness of NKO on the clinical management of Hyperlipidemia", the chart below shows the effect after the first 90 days of taking krill oil at a dose of 1 gram (2 softgels) per day for the first 30 days, than 0.5 grams (1 softgel) per day thereafter.




These results were reported for the Hyperlipidemia study of 120 men and women who took 2 - 500 mg softgels of krill oil for 30 days, then a dose of 1 - 500 mg softgel for an additional 60 days.  This study was designed as a prospective, randomized double blind phase II clinical trial.  

Lack of side effects

Woman's World reports: "Although the study-proven dose is 500 mg. daily, patients have taken up to 20 times more without negative effects."

In a number of cases, the initial dose was actually 2 to 3 -- 500 mg softgels, with no side effects reported.  One trial group in the Hyperlipidemia study used an dose of 3 gm (6 softgels) for the initial 30 days.

Long-term Krill Oil safety has been evaluated with a 6-month animal study using mice.  Six months in mice lifespan is equivalent to 27 human years.  The mice were fed krill oil amounting to 16.6% of their daily diet. Human equivalent dosage corresponds to 23.1 grams of krill oil (for a 70kg or 154 pound person) or 7 – 11 times the recommended dose. No adverse effects were reported. No pathological findings upon examination of brain, lungs, heart, stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, uterus / prostate, intestine, or skin. 

The results of the present toxicity assessment confirm that Neptune Krill Oil™ can be considered as safe for human consumption even at 2 to 3 times the highest recommended dose.

Note: People with a known allergy to fish or seafood were not tested in this study. The precaution remains that in the case of fish or seafood allergies, professional allergy testing is advised prior to consumption of Neptune Krill Oil™.

Reprinted with exclusive permission of Neptune Technologies and Bioresources, Inc.

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