Bioavailability of fatty acids from krill oil, krill meal and fish oil in healthy subjects--a randomized, single-dose, cross-over trial

Background Krill contains two marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA),
mainly bound in phospholipids. Typical products from krill are
krill oil and krill meal. Fish oils contain EPA and DHA
predominantly bound in triglycerides. The difference in the
chemical binding of EPA and DHA has been suggested to affect their
bioavailability, but little is known on bioavailability of EPA and
DHA in krill meal. This study was undertaken to compare the acute
bioavailability of two krill products, krill oil and krill meal,
with fish oil in healthy subjects. Methods A randomized,
single-dose, single-blind, cross-over, active-reference trial was
conducted in 15 subjects, who ingested krill oil, krill meal and
fish oil, each containing approx. 1 700 mg EPA and DHA. Fatty acid
compositions of plasma triglycerides and phospholipids were
measured repeatedly for 72 hours. The primary efficacy analysis was
based on the 72 hour incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of EPA
and DHA in plasma phospholipid fatty acids. Results A larger iAUC
for EPA and DHA in plasma phospholipid fatty acids was detected
after krill oil (mean 89.08 ± 33.36% × h) than after krill meal
(mean 44.97 ± 18.07% x h, p