The antioxidant properties of krill and its omega-3 content are being linked to the efficacy of krill oil to the reduction of arthritis symptoms.  This information is according to a new study on the health benefits of krill oil. The study compared the relieving properties to arthritis of fish oil and krill oil by introducing them to the diet of mice.

When the result came out, it revealed a reduction on inflammation. The researchers from MD Biosciences, Clanet and BioMarine said that krill oil’s significance in the reduction of arthritis symptoms makes it recommendatory as food supplement for patients suffering from inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Krill are tiny shrimps known for its rich omega-3 content and other essential nutrients needed by the body. It is one of the 85 species of deepwater shrimps or deepwater marine planktonic crustaceans. Krill oil has been proven to contain 48 times more antioxidant properties than fish oil.  This is according to the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) antioxidant scales.

The researchers used animal models of arthritis and were fed with 0.44 grams of krill oil and 0.47 grams of fish oil per 100 grams of diet. The results showed that the animals fed with both krill oil and fish oil showed significant reductions of hind paw swelling from arthritis compared to the swelling experienced by control animals without any supplementation of krill oil or fish oil. Krill oil caused the swelling to be reduced by 47 percent while fish oil only reduced it by 26 percent.

Understanding Arthritis

Arthritis is a health condition that results to the damage of joints in the body and there are 100 different forms of arthritis wherein osteoarthritis is most common. Also known as degenerative disease, osteoarthritis is caused by an infection or trauma to the joint or by old age. The primary symptom of arthritis is constant pain in the neck, back, feet, hip or knee. The pain is caused by the inflammatory processes happening around the joint.

The most common symptoms of arthritis are swelling, pain and joint stiffness. Some types of arthritis may also cause damage to internal organs. The other symptoms are difficulty of movement, fever, fatigue, weight loss, muscle ache and pain, and difficulty of sleeping. Arthritis is also one of the common causes of disability in the United States with over 20 million recorded individuals suffering from the health condition.

Unfortunately, some types of arthritis like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely prevented. But the risk of getting arthritis can be reduced by keeping an active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy body mass index, joining physical therapy sessions for arthritis prevention, and by having a healthy diet.

Pain is the primary indication of having arthritis. But medical examinations like blood tests and radiology is needed to confirm the presence of arthritis and to determine its type. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually associated with morning pain, stiffness of the joints and difficulty of moving. Radiographs are also used to determine the severity of the arthritis.

There is no cure to arthritis and the treatments used on patients are only to reduce the symptoms and lessen the pain experienced. Arthritic patients are often given a restricted diet plan, dietary supplements and are subjected to physical therapy to offset the occurrence of the symptoms. Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed to people with arthritis to reduce inflammation and reduce joint damage. For worse cases, patients undergo joint replacement surgery or arthroplasty to avoid further complications. Exercise has also shown long term relief from arthritis.

Arthritis Prevention and Relief

The first step to prevent the onset of arthritis and to help relieve its painful symptoms is by maintaining an active lifestyle followed by a healthy diet. There are many foods that aggravate and worsen the swelling and pain caused by arthritis. Proteins from food such as beef, eggs, wheat, oranges, coffee, soy, milk, and malt are known to worsen the symptoms of arthritis. Capsaicinoids are irritants that directly affect the pain receptors inside mucus membranes and the skin. These are found in abundant supply in red hot chili peppers.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic drinks and smoking are also known to increase the risk of developing arthritis. People who practice binge drinking and smoking have weaker immune systems. This increases their sensitivity to the irritants found in food. But the foods thought to worsen the symptoms of arthritis have not been proven to actually cause the disease. Medical experts will only advice sufficient intake of calcium to promote bone health.

Green Tea: Natural Relief to Arthritis

In a study conducted by the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio, it was found that the antioxidants contained in green tea reduce the severity and incidence of arthritis. Mice were used to examine the effects of polyphenols in green tea in the reduction of the symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The mice were fed with water treated with green tea in relative dosage to human consumption.  Collagen was used to induce arthritis in the mice. The study concluded that green tea decreased the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis in mice.

Benefits of Krill Oil

It has been proven by scientific studies that krill oil contains more antioxidants than fish oil. Over the years, fish oil is beginning to receive criticism regarding its health benefits. Though fish oil contains omega-3 and other antioxidants known to help the body fight free radicals, it can easily oxidize once extracted from fish and develops harmful effects to body. Krill oil, on the other hand, is more stable than fish oil. It also contains 48 times more antioxidants. Other than its antioxidant properties, krill oil is also effective in promoting liver health, maintaining good blood sugar levels, and good skin.

Krill oil contains phospholipids that protect cells from damage caused by toxins and free radicals. It also contains Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), two of the three essential Omega 3 fatty acids, that stimulates the secretion of prostaglandins, the anti-inflammatory enzyme produced by the body. This makes krill oil an effective natural relief to arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. The DHA in krill oil is also effective in brain development and in maintaining good memory.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
articledoctor.com
en.wikipedia.org