Dry eye disease is a condition where insufficient or poor-quality tears lead to ocular surface discomfort, burning, redness and sometimes blurry vision. This arises due to loss of tear film homeostasis containing three layers. It includes Lipid, aqueous and basal layer produced by Meibomian glands, lacrimal gland and conjunctival goblet cells respectively.[1] Krill oil, derived from Antarctic Krill (Euphasia superaba) being rich in omega 3 fatty acids nutraceutical krill oil, phospholipids and astaxanthin is used for therapeutic purpose and in treating dry eye disease. [2]
Managing Dry Eye Disease with Krill Oil Phospholipids
Dry eye disease is a condition where insufficient or poor-quality tears lead to ocular surface discomfort, burning, redness and sometimes blurry vision. This arises due to loss of tear film homeostasis containing three layers. It includes Lipid, aqueous and basal layer produced by Meibomian glands, lacrimal gland and conjunctival goblet cells respectively.[1]
Krill oil, derived from Antarctic Krill (Euphasia superaba) being rich in omega 3 fatty acids nutraceutical krill oil, phospholipids and astaxanthin is used for therapeutic purpose and in treating dry eye disease. [2]
What is the history of Krill oil?
The information in the following tabulation draws the history of krill oil fishing, manufacturing and scientific research that has been carried out sequentially.
Year | Event Description |
1960 | Antarctic krill fishing began experimentally by Soviet Union |
Post 1990 | Private fishing fleets developed krill meal and initial oil extraction techniques |
Late 1990 | Neptune Technologies (Canada) patented phospholipid rich krill oil |
2003 | Neptune Technologies launched Neptune Krill oil, the first commercial krill oil product |
2004 – 2010 | Expanded research into omega 3, phospholipids and antioxidant benefits of krill oil |
2010 | Aker BioMarine (New competitor) introduced alternative extraction technologies |
2012 | Explosion at Neptune’s manufacturing facility led to restructuring and operational changes |
What are the health benefits of krill oil?
- Anti-inflammatory: Omega 3 and astaxanthin reduces inflammation and alleviate arthritis symptoms
- Cardiovascular health: lowers triglycerides, blood pressure and heart disease risk by improving blood lipid profiles
- Brain health – DHA supports cognitive function, memory and neurological development
- Antioxidant Protection – It prevents the cell from oxidative damage due to the presence of astaxanthin
Therapeutic Effects of krill oil on Eye health
- A moderate dose of krill oil resulted in reduced tear osmolarity and increased tear stability in people with dry eye disease.
- Omega 3 and EFA in a predominant phospholipid form confers additional improvement on eye health supplements.
- Astaxanthin reduces oxidative stress in the eyes and boosts anti-inflammatory properties.
Therapeutic Effects of krill oil on various health conditions
Skin Health
- Skin aging is an inevitable process. The ratio of EPA and DHA can resist skin ageing, promotes wound healing. Astaxanthin improves skin condition and delays aging by exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- This active component reduces hyperpigmentation and photoaging by reducing trans epidermal water loss thereby increasing elasticity and reducing wrinkles.
- Therefore, it slows down collagen degradation and alleviate skin edema [3]
Fasting in adults with Overweight and obesity
- It reduces the loss of fat-free mass and muscle strength that usually happens with weight loss. Krill oil helps maintain muscle mass and handgrip strength during this period.
- Krill oil supplementation is also linked to improved physical function, shown by shorter chair rise times and larger reductions in systolic blood pressure. [4]
Gut Health
- A study states that use of krill oil has reversed the infection induces intestinal hyperplasia to baseline.
- It dampened intestinal inflammation through proinflammatory pathways including IL17 signalling and reducing histamine levels. It also promotes mucosal barrier functioning.
- It enriched microbiome by strengthening beneficial bacteria including Roseburia and Clostridium. Therefore, supplementing krill oil increased microbial phylogenetic diversity. [5]
Joint Health
- Omega 3 suppresses inflammatory pathway by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for inflammation
- Knee pain is relieved due to the combined effect of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic property by promoting cartilage health.
- This prevents from further degradation, leading to relied of pain and improved join function [6]
Heart Health
- Krill oil has found to decrease total cholesterol from 13% to 18%. But there is no LDL reduction level.
- It is also stated that krill oil should not be considered first line therapy for omega 3 intake and cardio protection.
- It does not appear to be effective for clinically relevant triglyceride lowering, as it indicates only modest reductions. [7]
Product Example:
Brand name: NYO3®
Product name: Antarctic Krill Oil Ultra boost omega – 3
Product Category: Dietary supplements
Brand that market krill oil
- NYO3® – is a premium Norwegian brand that offers sustainably sourced Antarctic krill oil. It undergoes third-party testing and holds certifications from organizations like IFOS and the FDA. It also won the Grand Gold Quality Award from Monde Selection.
- Kori is known for its transparency and commitment to sustainability. It uses Superba 2 krill oil, which has full batch traceability and several certifications.
- Sports Research uses clinically proven Superba2™ krill oil. It is third-party tested and recognized for its purity and potency.
- Viva Naturals offers IKOS-certified krill oil, which provides good omega-3 and antioxidant content.
Technique on enhancing bioavailability of krill oil
- Stability and bioavailability of krill oil is achieved by dual layer encapsulation system using 2% Whey protein isolate and 0.5% chitosan.
- Whey forms an emulsion encapsulating the krill oil droplets, while chitosan creates protective outer layer. This dual layer enhances the bioavailability for nutraceutical product development. [8]
- This technique supports tablet & capsule nutraceutical product innovation and tablet & capsule formulation development.
Contraindication of krill oil
- It is not advisable for people who are allergic to fish, shrimp, shellfish or seafood.
- It should not be used with blood thinning medications as it may increase bleeding risks
- Pregnant, lactating women, people who are undergoing surgery should avoid due to limited safety data.
Practical Implications for producers
Krill oil producers should meet the balance between extraction methods. It primarily consists of solvent-based extraction methods. The shift to eco-friendly method is less common and is less likely to be carried out. Following appropriate time and process helps in preserving bioactive components. Since components with less heat stability can be destroyed. Adhering to regulatory protocols and holding certifications for the concern product makes it stand out. Certifications on sustainability can enhance marketing appeal by assuring consumer responsibility. Therefore, maintaining the process through out in an ecological safer note can produce high quality product meeting customer expectations. These practices support nutraceutical product development and health-conscious product development.
Conclusion
Recent research has highlighted krill oil for its scientifically supported, multifunctional therapeutic properties. These are due to the presence of bioactive components like EHA, DPA. However, the quality of the final product depends on the processing and production. This can be achieved through advanced extraction technologies. We ensure for purity, stability and bioavailability, lighting on natural potency of the krill oil and its products. This natural potency positions krill oil as a key ingredient for omega-3 fatty acids nutraceutical krill oil products and eye health supplements.
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