• FAQs Regarding Krill Oil
• FAQs Regarding Dietary Suppliments and Omega-3s
• Studies on Omega-3s
• Glossary of Terms
  
  

FAQs Regarding Krill Oil

What is Krill?

Answer: Krill is a small shimp-like crustacean. It is the most important zooplankton species associated with the sea ice and plays a key role in the Antarctic food web. Each krill consists of about 15% high quality protein containing vital amino acids and about 3% fat and vitamins. It also supplies minerals such as iron, phosphorus, and calcium. It is very nutritious and a natural source of energy.

How is Krill Oil made?

Answer: Krill are caught in the clear Antarctic Ocean and are processed within one hour and packed onboard specially equipped ships to ensure freshness, taste and superlative quality. Freeze-dried krill is then supercritically processed using CO2 and high pressure. This processing creates a pure, ready-to-consume product that is high in Omega-3, phospholipids, and Astaxanthin.

What does Antartica Select Krill Oil contain?

Answer: Antarctica Select is guaranteed to contain 100% antarctic krill oil. Krill oil contains high levels of astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, as indicated by the deep ruby color. It also contains higher quantities of fatty acids, notably EPA and DHA, than other fish oils.

What are some of the health benefits of Krill Oil?

• May prevent heart disease
• Boosts Immune system
• Increases body energy
• Lowers bad cholesterol
• Increases concentration
• Reduces arthritis symptoms
• Reduces joint pain
• Helps digestive functions (liver, intestines)

Does Antarctica Select Krill Oil contain harmful pollutants?

Answer:It is suggested that the mercury content in fish oil may cancel out any benefits derived from it, but krill oil is free of all toxic elements such as mercury and other heavy metals.

What makes Antarctica Select different from other fish oils?

Answer: Krill oil has a higher content of Omega-3 fatty acids than fish oils, as well as some antioxidants not found in other products. It will not cause gastrointestinal difficulty and has no aftertaste.

FAQs Regarding Dietary Suppliments and Omega-3s

Where can I find information about taking natural products, or dietary supplements?

Answer: Before starting any supplement it is wise to speak with your doctor or pharmacist. See our studies section for more information on articles concerning Omega-3s. As well visit the FDA's website regarding Dietary Suppliments for further information: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html

Are there any interactions with vitamins and minerals or drugs that I should be aware of if I am taking Omega-3 suppliments?

Answer: The omega-3 polyunsaturates are components of foods and as such not likely to interact with drugs, though it is difficult to be exact since there are so many drugs being launched all the time. If you are taking any drug on the recommendation of a physician it would be wise to inform him or her when next you visit. There are no known interactions with vitamins or minerals.

Do I need to take Vitamin E if I am adding an Omega-3 suppliment to my diet?

Answer: Normally, It is a good idea to ensure a good intake of vitamin E if you are going to take an omega-3 supplement. Antartica Select Krill Oil an adequate level of vitamin E, so you need not take any extra.

What is the recommended amount of Omega-3 I should be consuming in my diet?

Answer: The American Heart Association has published it's guide to taking Omega-3s. See their information at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632. As well this article is useful for guidelines to proper consumption of Omega-3: AHA Dietary Guidelines.

Studies on Omega-3s

The following articles are related to the benefits on consuming Omega-3s in our diets.

n-3 Fatty acids and lipid peroxidation in breast cancer inhibition

Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease

Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease

Antioxidants

An antioxidant is a chemical that prevents the oxidation of other chemicals. In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation (plus a minor contribution from ionizing radiation) produce highly reactive free radicals. These can readily react with and damage other molecules: in some cases the body uses this to fight infection. In other cases, the damage may be to the body's own cells. The presence of extremely easily oxidisable compounds in the system can "mop up" free radicals before they damage other essential molecules. The following vitamins have shown positive antioxidant effects: Retinol (Vitamin A or beta-carotene), Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E (tocopherol), Selenium.

Astaxanthin

Immune-supporting carotenoid, which can be used to guard your cell membranes from free radical damage. Astaxanthin is the chemical that gives lobsters, shrimp, and some crabs their red color when they are cooked.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

A polyunsaturated fatty acid composed of 22 carbon atoms and six double bonds. Because the first double bond, as counted from the methyl terminus, is at position three, it belongs to the Omega-3 group.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

A major component of fish oil. It is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid of the n-3 or omega-3 type. EPA is an all cis polyunsaturated fatty acid containing 20 carbons and 5 double bonds.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that are required in the human diet. This means they cannot be synthesized by the body from other fatty acids and must be obtained from food. These fatty acids were originally designated as Vitamin F, until it was realized that they must be classified with the fats.

Krill - Link

The Norwegian word for whale food. It is also used as synonym for euphausiids, which are shrimp-like marine invertebrates, important organisms of the plankton (zooplankton). In the literal sense “krill” is used as common name for the most spectacular species: the Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) of the Antarctic waters in the Southern Ocean. It is an euphausiid. Krill live in large schools (swarms) and convert the primary production directly into a relatively large animal. They grow to a length of 6 cm, weigh 2 grammes, and live probably for 6 years. Krill is the keystone species of the ecosystem of Antarctica, and is an important food organism for whales, seals, Leopard Seals, fur seals, Crabeater Seals, squid, icefish, penguins, albatrosses and many other birds. Their biomass is estimated to be between 100 and 800 million tonnes, making E. superba probably the most successful animal on the planet; for comparison, the total non-krill yield from all world fisheries is about 100 million tonnes per year. The fishery of krill is on the order of 90,000 tonnes per year.

Linolenic Acid

An 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds. The isomer called alpha-linolenic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid, is essential for all mammals. Alpha-linolenic acid has been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk through reduced cardiac arrythmias and reduced carotid arteriosclerosis; however, epidemiology has also linked alpha-linolenic acid with rapidly progressing prostate cancer and macular degeneration. Another isomer of linolenic acid is gamma-linolenic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid which is the product of desaturation of Linoleic acid. This fatty acid is rare in food, and is sometimes taken as an oil supplement because its elongation product, di-homo gamma linolenic acid, is an important constituent of cell membrane phospholids in its role as precursor to the series-1 eicosonoids.

Omega-3

Polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain fish tissues, and in vegetable sources such as flax seeds, walnuts, and canola oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are classed as essential fatty acids. The term "omega-3" signifies that the first double bond in the carbon backbone of the fatty acid, counting from the end opposite the acid group, occurs in the third carbon-carbon bond. Like alle polyunsaturated fatty acids, the Omega-3 fatty acids have minimum 2 and maximum 6 double bounds in a carbon chain that ranges from 18 until 22 carbon atoms. Common omega-3 fatty acids in the body are (alpha)linolenic acid (18:3), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) , docosahexaenoic acid (22:6). Gamma-linolenic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid.

Phospholipids

A phospholipid is a lipid that is a primary component of cell membranes. Phospholipids consist of a water-soluble head (a positively charged (polar) group), linked to two water-insoluble nonpolar tails (by a negatively charged phosphate group). Both tails consist of a fatty acid, each 14-24 carbon groups long.