Krill oil improved osteoarthritic knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a 6-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. Treatment generally focuses on symptom relief through nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics, which may incur side effects. Krill oil, rich in anti-inflammatory long-chain (LC) omega-3 ( ω-3) PUFAs and astaxanthin, may be a safe and effective alternative treatment.ObjectivesThis study sought to investigate the effects of a commercially available krill oil supplement on knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee OA. Secondary outcomes were knee stiffness; physical function; NSAID use; Omega-3 Index; and lipid, inflammatory, and safety markers.MethodsHealthy adults (n = 235, 40-65 y old, BMI >18.5 to ResultsOmega-3 Index increased with the krill oil supplement compared with placebo (from 6.0% to 8.9% compared with from 5.5% to 5.4%, P ConclusionsKrill oil was safe to consume and resulted in modest improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults with mild to moderate knee OA.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03483090.