Krill oil for skin health

The skin is our largest body organ. It protects us from environmental influences, and is often a mirror of our health and nutrition. The condition of the skin is a reflection of the processes that take place inside the body, and any appearance on it, whether it is skin aging, acne or simply an unhealthy appearance of the skin, is a manifestation of a nutritional imbalance within the body.

Among the nutrients that are friends of the skin, an important role is played by essential fatty acids, which play a key role in creating the lipid barrier of the skin. They also moisturize the skin and relieve skin irritations. The lack of essential fatty acids is manifested by dry skin prone to irritation.

An interesting study dealt with the influence of omega-3 fatty acids from krill oil (Superba™ krill oil) on skin elasticity and moisture.The clinical study involved 31 subjects of both sexes who were randomly divided into 2 groups: the first group received 1 g of krill oil daily, while the second group received 3 g of krill oil every day. After 13 weeks of the study, a statistically significant increase in skin moisture and elasticity was found in both groups. The positive changes depended on the dose, so the effect on the skin was greater the higher the dose of krill oil. The scientists also monitored the size and width of the wrinkles using a digital camera. A significant reduction in wrinkles was observed in both groups. The effect was again proportional to the dose. At the same time, the skin also became smoother, but only in the group of subjects who consumed 3 g of krill oil every day.

Additionally, depending on the dose, the omega-3 index (the proportion of EPA and DHA in red blood cells) increased significantly; the increase in the omega-3 index was greater with the higher dose.

The results of the study led the scientists to the conclusion that the increase in the omega-3 index thanks to the intake of krill oil has a direct positive effect on the skin in 2 ways. The first effect refers to the phospholipid bilayer of the cell, where omega-3 fatty acids, due to the fact that they are bound to phospholipids in krill oil, can increase hydration or reduce water loss, while the second mechanism is related to the anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 fatty acids themselves.