Scientists conducted a randomized, double-blind controlled cross-over trial over a number of weeks. The aim was to evaluate the effects of krill oil supplementation on endothelial function and other cardiac risk considerations. This was specific to patients with type-2 diabetes and the effects that krill oil had on blood glucose control.
The outcomes assessed during the trial were:
- Endothelial function
- Blood lipids
- Glucose
- Glycated hemoglobin
- Serum antioxidant level
- C peptide
- Calculated Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores.
The volunteers were randomized to take either olive oil or krill oil supplementation for four consecutive weeks. After the four weeks they then underwent a two week washout period. The participants then changed over to the other supplementation for a further four weeks. After this time, participants were presented with an option to take krill supplementation for another 17 weeks. During the trial, testing occurred at three points:
- Baseline
- After first supplementation
- After second supplementation
The Conclusion
What the scientists deducted from this trial was Krill oil may lead to a reasonable improvement of cardiovascular risks. This was specifically in regard to endothelial dysfunction and HDL in overweight patients suffering with type-2 diabetes.