Krill oil study affirms healthy aging benefits with widespread “potential for industry”

03 Jul 2024 --- Aker Biomarine-partnered research used nematode worms and human cells to investigate whether krill oil can slow down the aging process. The study confirmed existing research claims that it does so and helps improve quality of life.

The Norwegian-based company expects age-related healthcare costs to increase massively in the coming years. “Global aging can be seen as both a triumph and a challenge. People are living longer, but not necessarily better. Aging is the most significant risk factor for major lifestyle diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular disease and cancer,” Line Johnsen, SVP, Science and Regulatory Affairs, Aker BioMarine, tells Nutrition Insight.

“As a society at large, we expect the age-related health care costs to increase massively in years to come. Given this, there is a global need to address the ‘Healthspan-Lifespan Gap’ to take measures to extend the span of healthy life, and finding solutions is crucial. The current nematode model study is a great starting point to understand how krill oil can positively affect healthy aging.” 

“There is always the potential to dive deeper into this area and the science team at Aker BioMarine has a full pipeline with studies underway and projects in the works. We know that finding solutions for healthy aging and its implications is crucial.” 

Nematode worms are common, well-researched organisms used in biomedical research as models for human development, genetics, aging and disease. They typically live for approximately three weeks and have bodily systems like humans, the company states.

The nematode worm’s performance
In the study, published in Aging, research teams from the University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital and Akershus University Hospital used nematode worms and human cells to investigate if krill oil can slow down the aging processes.

Johnsen notes: “We will be involved in three planned clinical trials testing the effects of Lysoveta on cognition in the elderly. Lysoveta is a novel dietary supplement for targeted delivery of LPC-EPA/DHA derived from krill.” 

“In addition to Superba Krill Oil, Aker BioMarine’s flagship ingredient, we see Lysoveta as an important ingredient for healthy aging, especially when it comes to brain health. We will be excited to share more details on the studies in the coming months.” 

Aging, the synergy between oxidative stress and inflammation, is also a significant risk factor for major lifestyle diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The nematodes that received krill oil (Superba Boost) in the research experiment did not lose as many nerve cells in the brain as they got older. The worms preserved memory and neuromuscular function and were generally much more active.

“We have found that krill oil, a natural extract, inhibits many processes driving aging in nematodes. We have also seen this in human cells in culture. By using a so-called aging clock, we see that the speed of the processes slows down for the animals’ given krill oil,” says Hilde Loge Nilsen, professor in the Department of Clinical Molecular Biology at the University of Oslo.

“There is no question that we need more science to understand how we can impact and improve the life quality of an aging population. We have invested in a new study that looks at how krill oil can influence many underlying mechanisms that contribute to aging,” says Johnsen.

Meanwhile, the company’s brain health ingredient, Lysoveta, achieved new dietary ingredient status in the US in 2023, allowing the company to market the new ingredient locally. The ingredient is derived from krill and contains lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-bound EPA and DHA. LPC has been identified as a carrier of DHA and EPA across the blood-brain barrier, which plays essential roles regulating inflammatory processes.

Effects on the aging population
The current study demonstrates how krill oil can help slow aging and potentially improve one’s quality of life. The company’s krill oil was used in two additional studies examining the oil’s effects in aging populations. 

“At the root of healthy aging is cellular health which simply means keeping the body’s cells in their best shape. Your overall health is dependent on the cells in your body and how they are functioning to their fullest potential from getting adequate nutrients to protecting them from internal and external stressors,” Johnsen explains. 

“Without healthy cells, our tissues and organs can become compromised which may lead to illness and disease, putting cellular health at the core of overall wellness and essential for longevity. By protecting our cells through preventative lifestyle measures, we can help mitigate the impact our lifestyles have on our ability to age gracefully and, most importantly, healthily.” 

Phospholipids, found in krill oil, are the common denominator of cellular health. As the natural, integral parts of cells, phospholipids help maintain the strength, flexibility and integrity of cells and cell membranes. Each cell is wrapped in a membrane called the phospholipid bilayer. 

“If we continue to look at Superba Krill oil (our flagship ingredient) as it relates to cellular and whole-body health, we will always be contributing to the area of healthy aging,” says Johnsen. 

“Aker BioMarine is also focusing on the scientific aspects of healthy aging from a joint and muscle standpoint. Superba Krill oil was used in two additional studies that examined krill oil’s effects in aging populations. Published in Clinical Nutrition (2022), scientists concluded that krill oil significantly increases muscle function and size in healthy older adults 60+.”

“Another breakthrough study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2022), concluded that krill oil improves knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults 40 to 65 years old with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis,” Johnsen concludes.

Essentially, Aker BioMarine’s Superba Boost krill oil supplement improves stiffness, pain and physical function in people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, according to a study conducted by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

By Inga de Jong