| Research has shown that krill oil protects against worms and the neurodegenerative process that occurs in human cells. (Photo = DB) |
[메디컬투데이=최재백 기자] Krill oil has been shown to protect against roundworms and neurodegenerative processes occurring in human cells.
A study published in the journal Aging found that krill oil protects against worms and neurodegenerative processes associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in human cells.
Krill oil is high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and choline, a nutrient essential for healthy brain development and function. According to previous studies, krill oil supplementation was effective in preventing memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s disease, and the lipid component of krill oil is effective in reducing inflammation and preserving cognitive function due to high bioavailability and absorption efficiency.
In addition, a recent research team reported that krill oil protects dopaminergic neurons from age-related neurodegeneration and improved cognitive function.
The research team carried out research on worms, which have a similar aging process to humans. First, they measured the effectiveness of krill oil in roundworms with Parkinson’s disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons over time.
The research team reported that dopaminergic neurons decreased by more than 30% after 6 days in roundworms that were not given krill oil, while there was no reduction in dopaminergic neurons in the worms as a result of krill oil.
According to the research team, nearly 50 alpha-synuclein protein clusters, which are characteristic of Parkinson’s disease, were found in worms that do not receive krill oil, but only 17 in worms that receive krill oil.
Parkinson’s disease is also known to affect movement, and tapeworms given krill oil were found to move faster and have more activity than tapeworms that were not given krill oil.
In addition, krill oil has been shown to prevent cells from losing their ability to grow and divide, reduce oxidative stress up to 6-fold, improve the cognitive function of roundworms, as well as promote genetic activity that promotes healthy ageing.
The research team said that roundworms with Parkinson’s disease did not respond to krill oil, and it was predicted that krill oil could affect aging and key mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease.
Experts say that unlike oils from other marine organisms, krill oil typically contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which help support immune function, cardiovascular function, and neuroprotection, and explained that the phospholipids in krill oil can improve tissue absorption and cross the blood-brain barrier.
One study found that pretreated krill oil could increase brain EPA and DHA levels 5 to 70 times more than regular krill oil, but other fish oils, with or without pretreatment, had no effect on EPA levels the brain than DHA.
Experts then added that phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid component of krill oil, has the effect of increasing neuronal uptake and directly stabilizing the nerve membrane.
They explained that the bioavailability and stabilization of neuronal membranes with krill oil is important for anti-inflammatory activity and maintenance of structural and functional integrity of nerves and can reduce inflammatory changes associated with aging.
Finally, krill oil has been noted to contain antioxidants such as astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is known to have anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardiovascular health, eye health, and skin health improvement effects.
This study suggests that krill oil, unlike other marine oils, has the ability to specifically slow down neurodegenerative processes in the brain. The research team concluded that krill oil promotes healthy aging in several ways.
In the meantime, they cautioned, the findings don’t mean everyone should start taking krill oil to treat neurodegeneration.
They note that the results obtained with pinworms may not apply to humans, and that krill oil does not have a significant effect on whole animals because monoacyl phospholipids cross the blood-brain barrier, while diacyl phospholipids have contained in krill oil. he noted that he can
Today’s Medical Correspondent Jaebaek Choi (jaebaekchoi@naver.com)
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
