Krill oil, a popular omega-3 supplement, is thought to help ease knee pain from osteoarthritis. But a new study published Wednesday in JAMA, unlike some before it, finds that the supplement doesn’t make a difference.
The study included 262 people. About half of them took krill oil, and the others took a placebo, for 24 weeks. Then a team at Menzies Institute for Medical Research in Hobart, Australia, evaluated the results.
Previous trials, although they included fewer participants, have shown that the supplement could reduce some aspects of knee pain and stiffness. The discrepancy may stem from study eligibility requirements; some studies have evaluated krill oil on people with knee pain from any source, but others didn’t require a formal diagnosis.
The new study included people who had osteoarthritis that was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, scans. People also had to have knee pain rated at 40 or higher on a 100-point scale.
In the current study, participants took 2 g/d of krill oil containing 380 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 200 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which led to an omega-3 index value of 8%. Previous studies included higher concentrations.
Krill are found in all the world’s oceans and are the main diet for many whales. Krill include omega-3 oil but also include astaxanthin, an antioxidant that is common in salmon but not other fish oils.
The average age of study participants was 61.6 years. Their baseline knee pain scores averaged just under 50 on a 100-point scale. Most participants also were taking an over-the-counter medication or supplement for knee pain relief.
After 24 weeks, the krill oil didn’t improve knee pain in either group, the data showed.
If krill oil doesn’t relieve pain, all hope isn’t lost. Recent research shows that self-administered acupressure, a practice from traditional Chinese medicine, may be able to help.
