As we age, it’s important to take care of our muscles so that we can maintain our strength and independence.
Unfortunately, as we get older, our muscles tend to get weaker and smaller, which can make everyday activities more difficult.
That’s why scientists at the University of Glasgow recently conducted a study to see if krill oil supplements could help improve muscle health in older people.
Krill oil is a dietary supplement made from an extract of a tiny, shrimp-like creature called Antarctic krill.
Krill oil is similar to oceanic fish oil in that they are both rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for our health.
In particular, krill oil contains two types of omega-3 fatty acids, called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been shown to be important for fetal development, heart function, and immune function.
The researchers wanted to test whether taking krill oil supplements could improve muscle function and size in healthy older adults.
To do this, they recruited 94 men and women who were over the age of 65 and who were not regularly exercising.
The participants were randomly assigned to either a control group, which did not receive any supplements or a group that took 4 grams of krill oil supplements per day for 6 months.
At the beginning of the study, and at 6 weeks and 6 months into the study, the researchers measured the participants’ muscle function and size.
They found that after 6 months of taking krill oil supplements, the participants in the krill group had stronger knee muscles, as well as stronger grip strength, compared to the control group.
The researchers also found that the krill group had higher levels of EPA and DHA in their bodies, compared to the control group.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that taking krill oil supplements for 6 months can lead to improvements in muscle function and size in healthy older adults.
This is important because it suggests that krill oil supplements could be a simple and safe way for older adults to improve their muscle health and maintain their strength as they age.
It’s worth noting that this study only lasted for 6 months, so we don’t know whether the benefits of krill oil supplements would last for longer periods of time.
Additionally, while krill oil is generally considered safe, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new dietary supplements, especially if you have any health conditions or are taking medications.
In conclusion, this study provides some evidence that krill oil supplements could be a helpful tool for older adults who are looking to improve their muscle health.
While further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosage and duration of krill oil supplementation, this study is a promising first step in understanding the potential benefits of this dietary supplement.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and this plant nutrient could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
The research is published in Clinical Nutrition and was conducted by Saleh Alkhedhairi et al.
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