Krill oil supplement helps preserve muscle strength and mass during diet-induced weight loss
Published: 30 June 2025
Supplementation with krill oil during an alternate day fasting diet helps to reduce the decline in both muscle mass and muscle strength
Supplementation with krill oil during an alternate day fasting diet helps to reduce the decline in both muscle mass and muscle strength.
The fundings, from a new study led by the University of Glasgow and published in the journal Obesity, are the first of their kind to investigate the effects of krill oil on muscle mass and strength during diet-induced weight loss.
Growing global interest in weight-loss interventions – from calorie-restricted diets to pharmacological approaches such as weight-loss jabs – has brought increased attention to the potential health implications of rapid weight reduction. One concern is the simultaneous loss of skeletal muscle, which can negatively impact metabolic health, physical function and long-term weight maintenance.
To test whether krill oil – a source of long-chain omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids – could help minimise the decline of muscle mass and strength during weight loss, researchers recruited 41 adults to a randomized trial, with one group receiving 4g krill oil per day and the other group given placebo supplements (vegetable oil).
Overall, the study found that the loss in muscle mass was lower in the krill oil group compared to the placebo group. Muscle strength in the krill oil group was also less impacted, with the resulting loss in handgrip strength lower, and the amount of time to rise out of a chair shorter for participants taking the krill oil supplements.
Additionally, the reduction in systolic blood pressure was greater in the krill oil group than in the placebo group.
Professor Stuart Gray, co-author of the study, said: “While losing weight is often a good thing one of the unintended consequences is that we don’t only lose fat, but we also lose muscle. In this study we have found that krill oil can help to preserve our muscle mass and strength as we lose weight. As maintenance of muscle is very important for our overall health and quality of life, these are extremely exciting findings.”
Line Johnsen, SVP Human Health Ingredients R&D, Aker BioMarine, said: “We are pleased to continue our work with the University of Glasgow to further explore krill oil and its positive effects on muscle mass and function.
“We have previously conducted scientific studies with Dr. Gray and his team to show how the important nutrients found in krill impact muscle strength and mass with age, and this follow up study helps strengthen our understanding of this area.”
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 30 June 2025