Krill oil

Krill oil is a marine fat from small crustaceans, krill, used as an omega-3 source in some supplements and foods, supplying long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in a particular form. In krill oil, part of the EPA and DHA is bound to phospholipids, whereas in conventional fish oil these fatty acids are mainly in triglyceride form, and this phospholipid form is presented as favouring absorption (veterinary literature). Krill oil also contains astaxanthin, an antioxidant pigment that gives it its red colour and helps protect the fatty acids from [oxidation](/glossary/rancidity-oxidation). These features feed a premium positioning, but the nuance is that clinical evidence for a clear superiority of krill oil over fish oil in dogs and cats stays limited: both supply EPA and DHA, which are the useful element (WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines). One safety point matters: because krill is a crustacean, krill oil should be avoided in an animal allergic to shellfish, and like any marine oil it must be well preserved. The marker: krill oil is a marine source of EPA and DHA in phospholipid form with astaxanthin, whose real advantage over fish oil is not firmly demonstrated. Compare it with [salmon and salmon oil](/glossary/salmon-salmon-oil) and [herring](/glossary/herring), and note its contrast with poorly converted plant omega-3 from [flaxseed oil](/glossary/flaxseed-oil).

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