Table 1 Study characteristics of comparisons of krill oil and fish oil induced bloodstream fatty acid compositional changes in humans

Laidlaw et al. [9]

150

90

As rTG: 650

As rTG: 450

Percent increase in whole blood fatty acids

No serious AEs

Open-label crossover study

As EE: 756

As EE: 228

Extrapolation of data for blood composition at 1 g fatty acid intake

Other AEs not specified

EPA/DHA doses varied according to the lipid source

As TG: 180

As TG: 220

Estimation of cardiovascular risk reduction

Short period of supplementation (4 wk)

Maki et al. [6]

216

90

212

176

4 wk supplementation with KO, menhaden oil, or olive oil

No safety-related AEs

Single dosage of EPA + DHA

Change in total plasma fatty acid (μmol/L) from baseline

Frequency of gas/bloating and flatulence was greater in KO group than in FO group

Short period of supplementation (4 wk)

Ramprasath et al. [3, 9]

493 (calculated)

284 (calculated)

404 (calculated)

260 (calculated)

4 wk supplementation with KO, FO, or corn oil

No safety-related AEs

LA content was higher in FO supplement than in KO supplement

Change in total plasma and RBC fatty acid (% TFA) from baseline

Burping and aftertaste was greater in KO group than in FO group

Short period of supplementation (4 wk)

Single dosage of EPA + DHA

Schuchardt et al. [7]

1050

630

As TG: 1008

As TG: 672

Plasma PL fatty acid at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after the one-day intervention

NR

Acute supplementation trial

As EE: 1008

As EE: 672

Comparisons made as change from baseline, area under the curve, C-max, and t-max

Crossover design with high standard deviations

Ulven et al. [4]

348

195

450

414

7 wk supplementation with KO, FO, or no supplementation

No safety-related AEs

Intervention was not blinded

Change in total plasma fatty acid (μmol/L) from baseline

Difference in tolerability not reported