Supplementation with Superba Krill oil from Aker BioMarine Antarctic resulted in beneficial effects on heart function in an experimental model of heart failure. Pre-treatment with krill oil attenuated left ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy after myocardial infarction.

The study was performed by researchers at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, and included 53 male rats divided into three treatment groups: a control group, a group pre-treated with krill oil and a group given Superba Krill oil only after induction of myocardial infarction. Animals pre-treated with krill oil showed significant attenuation of left ventricular dilatation, heart weight and lung weight, as compared to the placebo group. These effects were accompanied with reduced expression of genes involved in left ventricular stress, matrix remodeling and inflammation.

"The health benefits of krill oil have been previously revealed through numerous studies and clinical trials. Previous studies have shown that krill oil increases the level of EPA and DHA in heart tissue, but this is the first study to indicate beneficial effects on a hard end-point like myocardial infarction," said Kjetil Berge, R&D director of Aker BioMarine.

The paper was published in December 2011 in BMC Lipids in Health and Disease. For further information: www.akerbiomarine.com