Increasing “good” cholesterol (HDL), decreasing ocidation of “bad” cholesterol,Angina pectoris, Lowering blood pressure, decreasing platelet aggregation, increasing blood flow, reducing the risk for heart beat (Arrhythmias) , Arterial Fibrillation, Reducing Inflammation that enhances Atherosclerosis, Congestive heart failure, High blood pressure, Lowering triglycerides, Post myocardial infarction, Coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Heart disease include coronary heart disease,which is characterized by plaques that consist of fat and cholesterol building up inside blood vessels.Over time they lead to restricted access of blood to the heart and the blood vessels lose their elasticity. This condition characterized by stiff arteries is called atherosclerosis. The likelihood of clots in these narrowed arteries is increased and pieces of plaque can break off and move to smaller blood vessels, completely blocking them. Decreased blood flow or blockage prevents the sufficient oxygen supply to tissues, which can cause damage or tissue death (necrosis)
This is a common reason for heart attack and stroke, but also pulmonary embolism, when a clot moves into an artery in the lungs.
In some cases, the plaque is part of a process that causes a weakening of the wall of any artery, which can lead to a blood filled enlargement of the vessel called aneurysm. Aneurysms can break and become life threatening due to strong bleeding.
In Ω krill oil, Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help protect against atherosclerosis and plaque rupture, probably due to their anti-flammatory effects.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Western industrialized countries. This disease develops slowly so that by the time symptoms appear the underlying cause is advanced and difficult to treat. Omega 3 fatty acids have been reported to reduce CVD by balancing blood pressure and arrhythmia, soothing inflammation, reducing artherosclerotic plaque accumulation, promoting endothelial smoothness and function, as well as lowering lipid levels in the blood (Din 2004). The effect of Ω krill oil on hyperlipidemia was investigated in 2004. Patients were treated with krill oil, fish oil or placebo in a randomized trial for 12 weeks.
At the end of the study period, those patients supplemented with krill oil showed significantly improved blood lipid profiles compared to those treated with fish oil or placebo. Total cholesterol and LDL decreased by 18% and 39%, respectively. HDL increased significantly by up to 59% and triglyceride profile improved significantly by 28.5% (Bunea 2004).
Myocardial Infarction
Ω Krill oil can also be useful after a heart attack. The DART trial showed in 2033 men that the survival rate in the omega-3 fatty acid supplementation group was 29% higher than in the placebo group two years after the heart attack. Another example is the GISSI study performed in Italy including 11.000 patients after they had a heart attack. The patients received omega-3 fatty acids in addition to their classical heart medications.
The risk for a deadly heart attack or stroke was reduced by 30% in the omega-3 supplemented group versus the placebo group that did not receive EPA and DHA alongside their classical drug treatment.These findings led to the recommendation for administration of omega-3 fatty acids as part of the post heart attack regimen in Europe.
High blood pressure
The incidence of high blood pressure in 4508 American adults aged 18-30, without hypertension at baseline in 1985 was evaluated every few years until 2005. It was found that the development of hypertension was inversely associated with the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish oil has been found to cause a modest reduction in blood pressure at a dose level of>3g/d both in untreated and treated hypetencives. In addition, DHA was inversely associated with pulse rate measured at rest in the clinic. This suggests that a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids can prevent the development of hypertension.
High blood lipids
A number of studies have found that krill oil beneficially regulates blood lipids. Ω Krill oil appears to be more effective in the treatment of raised blood cholesterol than fish oil, with an approximately three times higher reduction in total cholesterol levels. The researchers found that a daily dose of 500mg of krill oil may be effective for longer term usage.
In another study, krill oil significantly decreased total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and serum LDL-Cholesterol,whilst slightly increasing the levels of HDL-cholesterol.
The efficacy of krill oil in hyperlipidemia was established in a clinical trial conducted 120 male and female adults (mean age was 51 years) with hyperlipidemia (with blood cholesterol levels between 194 and 348mg/dl)
Krill oil was orally administered to 30 individuals in:
Group A : 2 or 3 gr krill oil /day (BMI-dependent)
Group B : 1 or 1,5 g Krill oil/day
Group C : 3 g fish oil /day
Group D : Placebo group
All individuals consumed their supplements for 12 weeks. The primary outcome parameters measured included the effect of krill oil in blood lipids, specifically total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Results after 12 weeks were:
| Total | Cholestero | LDL | HDL | Triglicerides |
| Group A (3 g krill oil) | -18% | -39% | +59% | -28% |
| Group A (2 g krill oil | -18% | -37% | +55% | -28% |
| Group B (1,5g Krill oil) | -14% | -36% | +43% | -12% |
| Group B (1 g krill oil) | -13% | -32% | +44% | -11% |
| Group C (3g ιχθυέλαιο) | -6% | -5% | +4% | -3% |
| Group D (Placebo) | +9% | +13% | +4% | -10% |
Blood glycose levels were significantly reduced in all krill oil groups and triglycerides and LDL levels were reduced more effectively in the krill oil groups than in the fish oil group.
