Ethyl Ester Fish Oil vs Krill Oil
How ethyl ester fish oil and krill oil differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Ethyl Ester Fish Oil | Krill Oil (Phospholipid) | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Moderate | High |
| How it is absorbed | Fatty acids esterified to ethanol to allow concentration by distillation. The ethyl ester bond is hydrolyzed more slowly by pancreatic lipase, so absorption depends heavily on taking it with a fat-containing meal. | A large share of EPA and DHA is bound to phospholipids, which are emulsifiers and absorb without heavy dependence on dietary fat. |
| Typical dose | 1-4 g EPA+DHA daily | 1-3 g krill oil daily (typically 150-400 mg EPA+DHA) |
| Common uses | high-dose triglyceride lowering, concentrated capsules | people who get fishy burps from fish oil |
| Side effects | Similar to triglyceride oil. | Less aftertaste than fish oil. Avoid with shellfish allergy. |
| Cost | Low | High |
| Also called | EE fish oil, omega-3-acid ethyl esters | krill oil, phospholipid omega-3 |
| Labels in index | 83 | 5 |
When to Choose Ethyl Ester Fish Oil
Choose ethyl ester fish oil when you need a high concentrated dose and will take it with a fatty meal. Prescription omega-3s (omega-3-acid ethyl esters, icosapent ethyl) use this form. Take with the largest meal of the day.
Ethyl Ester Fish Oil
The form of both prescription products and most budget concentrates. Fine with a fatty meal, poorly absorbed without one.
What to look for: EPA plus DHA per serving rather than per softgel. Take with the largest meal of the day.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Krill Oil (Phospholipid)
Choose krill oil when fish oil aftertaste is a deal-breaker and the dose needed is small. Delivers far less EPA+DHA per capsule than concentrated fish oil, so cost per gram of EPA+DHA is high.
Krill Oil (Phospholipid)
Krill oil absorbs well, but the dose per capsule is small and the cost per milligram of EPA plus DHA is high.
What to look for: Total EPA plus DHA in mg. Ignore krill oil weight and astaxanthin content when comparing.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 83 labels in the Fish Oil and Omega-3 category list ethyl ester fish oil and 5 list krill oil.
Supplement Search loads one category at a time. Choose the Fish Oil and Omega-3 tab, then type a form such as "triglyceride" under Must contain, or a form to avoid under Must not contain.
Related
References
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Harris WS, von Schacky C. The Omega-3 Index: a new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease? Prev Med. 2004;39(1):212-220.
Dyerberg J, et al. Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2010;83(3):137-141.
Neubronner J, et al. Enhanced increase of omega-3 index in response to long-term n-3 fatty acid supplementation from triacylglycerides versus ethyl esters. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011;65(2):247-254.
Albert BB, et al. Fish oil supplements in New Zealand are highly oxidised and do not meet label content of n-3 PUFA. Sci Rep. 2015;5:7928.
Bhatt DL, et al. Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):11-22.
Manson JE, et al. Marine n-3 Fatty Acids and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):23-32.
Nicholls SJ, et al. Effect of High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs Corn Oil on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk: The STRENGTH Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020;324(22):2268-2280.
Gencer B, et al. Effect of Long-Term Marine omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Randomized Controlled Trials of Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Circulation. 2021;144(25):1981-1990.