Scientists from the University of Glasgow found that krill oil may be beneficial to muscle function and size in healthy people over the age of 65.
They found that krill oil supplementation of four grams per day could have beneficial effects on muscle function and size in this age group.
Healthy adults who received daily krill oil supplementation for six months showed strong increases in muscle function and size.
The research is published in Clinical Nutrition and was conducted by Dr. Stuart Gray et al.
As humans age, we experience a slow deterioration of our muscle mass and function.
Previous research has indicated that EPA and DHA supplementation can positively impact muscle protein synthesis, muscle volume and strength.
Krill oil contains high concentrations of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which previous scientific studies have shown are important nutrients for the body as it ages.
The study included 102 men and women above 65 years of age. The participants were divided into two groups, a control group that received the placebo and a test group that received four grams per day of Superba krill oil.
The team found that participants receiving daily krill oil supplements showed the following improvements (from baseline) at the end of the study:
Increase in thigh muscle strength (9.3%), grip strength (10.9%) and thigh muscle thickness (3.5%), relative to the control group.
Increase in red blood cell fatty acid profile for EPA 214%, DHA 36% and the omega-3 index 61%, relative to the control group.
Increased M-Wave of 17% (relative to the control group), which shows the excitability of muscle membranes.
These findings suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are important nutrients for adults as people age.
The study also suggests that choline in krill oil may have additional beneficial effects on skeletal muscle metabolism and health.
It strengthens the hypothesis that daily supplementation of krill oil for an extended period can improve knee thigh muscle strength, grip strength and muscle thickness in healthy, older adults.
If you care about muscle health, please read studies about fruit that may keep your muscles young, and a new drug could delay muscle aging.
For more information about muscles, please see recent studies about exercises that could help protect your muscles, and results showing vitamin D deficiency may lead to poor muscle function in older people.
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