A Comparison of the Effects of Krill Oil and Fish Oil Supplementation on Muscle Function in Older Adults

A Comparison of the Effects of Krill Oil and Fish Oil Supplementation on Muscle Function in Older Adults: a Randomised Controlled Pilot Study

The aim of the study is to compare the effects of Krill Oil and Fish Oil supplementation on muscle function in older adults. The secondary aim is to investigate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects previously observed.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Fish oil; Dietary supplement: Kril oil; Dietary supplement: Vegetable oil

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 61
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Scotland
    • Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
      • Stuart Robert Gray

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Older adults (aged 60 years or older). BMI less than 30kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants (diagnosed and being treated for a pre-existing medical condition (cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, gait disturbances limiting the ability to perform assessments of muscle function, dementia, affecting muscles known to use drugs (e.g., steroids). History of allergy to fish or fish oil and regular consumption of more than1portion of oily fish per week or use of fish oil or krill oil supplements will also be excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Fish oil; Fish oil 4 g/day	Dietary supplement: Fish oil; EPA rich fish oil
Active Comparator: Krill oil; Krill oil 4g/day	Dietary supplement: Kril oil; Superba Krill Oil
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Vegetable oil 4g/day	Dietary supplement: Vegetable oil; Mixed vegetable oil

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in knee extensor maximal isometric torque ( MVC)	Knee extensor maximal isometric torque measured during a maximal voluntary contraction	Change from baseline to 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in fat mass	Whole body fat mass measured by measured via bio-electrical impedance	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Change in lean mass	Whole body lean mass measured by measured via bio-electrical impedance	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Blood sample	Red Blood Cell Omega-3 levels	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Change in Grip strength	Grip strength measured with a hand held dynamometer	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Change in Muscle thickness	Vastus lateralis muscle thickness measured by ultrasound	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Force steadiness during submaximal isometric knee extensor contractions	Measured by using intramuscular iEMG	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ)	Measured by iEMG	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Change in gait speed	Time taken to walk 4 metres at a normal walking pace	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Change in Chair rise time	A 30-second sit-to-stand test measured functional abilities	Change from baseline to 16 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Step Time (Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Cycle Time (Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Step Length (CM)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Stride Length (CM)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
H-H Base Support (CM)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Single Support (%GC)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Double Support (%GC)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Swing (%GC)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Stance (%GC)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Step/ Extremity Ratio	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Toe In/ Out (deg)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Distance (CM)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Ambulation Time (Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Velocity (CM/Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Mean Normalized Velocity	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Number of Steps	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Cadence (Steps/Min)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Step Time Differential (Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Step Length Differential (CM)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks
Cycle Time Differential (Sec)	Measured during a 4m walk using a gaitrite mat	Change from baseline to 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Glasgow

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle mass; strength; omega-3; ageing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: FISHKRILL

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No