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Krill Health Benefits

Keeping Dogs And Cats Healthy And Happy

Antarctic Krill is not only a superior omega-3 source but also contains a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, natural choline, and palatable marine proteins. This makes it a unique marine ingredient with several key nutrients beneficial for cats and dogs at every life stage. 

The Krill Advantage

Krill Health Benefits For Pets

Skin and coat

Fat is very important for healthy skin and coat in pets. A regular diet based on essential fatty acids like those found in krill is essential to keep the skin barrier fit and the coat shiny.

Liver

Omega-3s and choline improve and maintain a healthy liver function, and can aid in the proper metabolism of fat.

Joints

Krill omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties and can contribute to reducing inflammation and thereby joint pain caused by wear and tear during ageing or osteoarthritis.

Brain

Omega-3s and choline from krill are essential in supporting brain development, the learning process, the nerve transmitters and affect the overall mental well-being of pets.

Immune system

A healthy, balanced diet that includes omega-3s and astaxanthin can support and enhance the immune system of cats and dogs of all ages, making immune cells more flexible and resistant.

Heart

Omega-3s are important for a healthy heart and can help lower blood pressure and prevent dangerous blood clots that could be damaging to the heart.

The Krill Advantage

Krill Health Benefits For Pets

Health Benefits - Image - Scaled

Skin and coat

Fat is very important for healthy skin and coat in pets. A regular diet based on essential fatty acids like those found in krill is essential to keep the skin barrier fit and the coat shiny.

Liver

Omega-3s and choline improve and maintain a healthy liver function, and can aid in the proper metabolism of fat.

Joints

Krill omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties and can contribute to reducing inflammation and thereby joint pain caused by wear and tear during ageing or osteoarthritis.

Brain

Omega-3s and choline from krill are essential in supporting brain development, the learning process, the nerve transmitters and affect the overall mental well-being of pets.

Immune system

A healthy, balanced diet that includes omega-3s and astaxanthin can support and enhance the immune system of cats and dogs of all ages, making immune cells more flexible and resistant.

Heart

Omega-3s are important for a healthy heart and can help lower blood pressure and prevent dangerous blood clots that could be damaging to the heart.

One Ingredient, Many Benefits

Krill Is Naturally Rich In

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Superior

Omega-3

Omega-3s have demonstrated several health benefits for pets, including a healthy heart, liver, brain, joint, skin, and fur.

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Powerful

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant in krill, protecting all body cells from oxidative damage.

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Natural

Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient that pets require for a healthy liver. It is also very important for brain health and muscle function.

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Tasty

Proteins

The marine proteins in krill are highly palatable, easy to digest, and represent an alternative protein source.

Several Studies Prove This

QRILL Pet PL NUTRI Plus

has Multiple Health Benefits

Aker BioMarine has been investigating the effects of krill on dogs, publishing several studies that document the health benefits and efficiency of QRILL Pet meal in raising the levels of omega-3 and choline in dogs.

Studies Show The Positive Effects of Krill Products

We are committed to documenting the effects of krill meal inclusion and already performed several studies to ensure and understand the advantages and mechanisms of dietary krill meal inclusion in dog diets.

All our studies show that phospholipid omega-3s and other key nutrients found in krill meal (as is choline) proved to have positive effects on vital organs, being essential for the healthy development and maintenance of dogs.

These positive results encourage us to further research and study the unique components of krill, such as the positive effects of its omega-3s and choline on the health of several vital organs, including the heart, kidney, liver, joints, brain, eyes, skin, and coat.

Read all about our latest studies in the Scientific Guide

 

The Phospholipid Advantage

Proven Health Benefits of Omega-3s

A recent study done on Alaskan Husky dogs have shown that the phospholipid-bound omega-3s from krill are more effective in raising omega-3 levels in a dog’s body compared to triglyceride-bound omega-3s.  This result is also well supported by several human studies.

 

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A krill-rich diet increased the Omega-3 Index of active dogs

A 6-week study done recently by Aker BioMarine had the objective to compare Omega-3 Index concentrations when omega-3s were provided in phospholipid versus triglyceride form. [1]

20 adult Alaskan Husky dogs were involved in the study. 10 dogs were fed with 8% QRILL Pet inclusion, while 10 dogs in the control group received a diet that included omega-3 triglycerides. The amount of EPA/DHA in the diet was equal in both groups.

 

Conclusion

The results have shown that the phospholipid-bound omega-3s from krill are more effective in raising the omega-3 index in a dog’s body compared to triglyceride-bound omega-3s, such as those found in fish oil. The group receiving QRILL Pet increased their Omega-3 Index by 62%, while the fish oil control group only increased by 21%.

Read more about the study

 

What is the Omega-3 Index?

The Omega-3 Index measures the amount of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA compared to the amount of other fatty acids in cell membranes. This diagnostic tool provides a useful indication of a pet’s long-term intake of omega-3s.

A sufficient omega-3 index will be beneficial for keeping a healthy heart, brain, vision, joints, and skin.

 

Other benefits of a higher Omega-3 Index

The benefits of an increased Omega-3 Index were shown in an earlier study involving huskies participating in the Iditarod race, an ultra-endurance race in Alaska. [2] The race is known to induce muscle damage and inflammation.

The Alaskan huskies received pet food with 8% QRILL Pet inclusion for 5-week prior to the start of the 2016 Iditarod sled dog race. The control team didn’t receive any pet food with krill meal.

We found out that the dogs receiving QRILL Pet with a higher Omega-3 Index at the start of the race showed lower muscle damage and 55% less inflammation at the end of the race when compared to the other group.

 

Watch our Video

How Important Are The Right Omega-3s

Omega-3s have many recognized health benefits for dogs and humans alike. Choosing a pet food that contains omega-3 is the first step. Watch the video for more about omega-3s and their benefits for pets.

More than omega-3s

Choline - An Essential Nutrient For Pets

Like humans, dogs can produce choline, however, not enough to meet all their body’s requirements at all times. A dietary supplement is advised to avoid choline deficiency.

 

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Dogs on a krill diet had their choline plasma levels increased

In 2018, a dog sled team of 20 Alaskan Huskies took part in a six-week trial to investigate if the inclusion of phosphatidylcholine from Antarctic krill can increase the concentration of choline and its metabolites in the plasma of sled dogs. [3]

Twenty of these high-performing sled dogs were separated into two groups. The first group received 8 percent of a proprietary krill dietary supplement, and the second team of ten dogs received a control diet without krill.

Conclusion

After 6 weeks, the dogs which received a QRILL Pet diet have an average increase of 52% of their choline levels. The results demonstrated that a nutritional strategy, such as the addition of phosphatidylcholine to the diet, can help to significantly increase plasma choline concentrations.

Choline is an essential nutrient for dogs that has an impact on healthy brain development, heart health, liver function, muscle function, as well as the nervous system.

Read more about the study

Watch our video

The Importance Of Choline For Dogs

How important is choline in a dog’s diet? Find all about this essential nutrient and what its main health benefits for both pets and humans from our video.

More than omega-3s

Natural Source Of Astaxanthin And Marine Proteins

While many of the nutritional needs in pet food have to be sourced through different ingredients, Antarctic krill is rich in multiple nutrients, not only omega-3s.

 

A powerful antioxidant

Another powerful nutrient naturally found in krill is the antioxidant astaxanthin, known as a natural protectant. 

Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid pigment naturally occurring in krill, functioning as a biologically active antioxidant protecting all cells in the pet’s body.

Astaxanthin has shown to be more than 100 times more powerful than vitamin E and 10 times more powerful than vitamin C.

Studies show that astaxanthin protects the immune system, improves vaccine response and has anti-inflammatory properties. Astaxanthin supplement has also been found to elevate antioxidant function and liver function.

When provided in a pet’s diet, astaxanthin is integrated into the immune cell and protects it from destruction by free radicals.

 

Tasty marine proteins

Marine proteins are other important nutrients found in krill. They are highly palatable, easy to digest and present an alternative protein source. Krill protein has a complete protein profile meaning it contains all the essential amino acids a pet needs in a diet.

Ensuring pets like the taste of the food they eat is essential. Just like humans, some pets are picky eaters, and this worries their humans. They want to offer a healthy meal to their pets as well as provide them with a meal that they will enjoy.

In a study done by Aker BioMarine, 9 out of 10 dogs preferred the food that included a high-quality Antarctic krill ingredient. This shows that the highly palatable marine proteins that are included in Antarctic dried krill meal are the preferred choice by many dogs.

Download now our latest brochure

Watch our video

The Health Benefits Of QRILL Pet

QRILL Pet has many nutritional and health benefits for pets. Learn more about the scientifically documented effects in our latest animation.

 

 

References

  1. Burri, L., et al., Enhanced omega-3 index increase in dogs with dietary inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids from krill versus fish. Vet World, 2020.

  2. Burri, L., et al., Effects of dietary supplementation with krill meal on serum pro-inflammatory markers after the Iditarod sled dog race. Res Vet Sci, 121: p. 18-22.

  3. Burri, L., K. Heggen, and A. Storsve. Phosphatidylcholine from krill increases plasma choline and its metabolites in dogs, Vet World, 2019. 12(5): 671-676.