Oslo, July, 27, 2022: A new study conducted by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, across three clinical trial sites in Australia, and sponsored by Swisse’s H&H Research, investigated the effects of krill oil on adults suffering from mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA).
The six-month rigorously designed clinical trial concluded that Swisse High Strength Deep Sea Krill Oil (Superba™ BOOST krill oil phospholipids) was safe to consume and resulted in improvements in knee pain, stiffness and physical function in adults with mild to moderate knee OA.
Swisse’s Superba BOOSTTM krill oil supplier is Aker BioMarine.
“We are very happy with the results from this well-executed trial,” said Line Johnsen, Vice President of Science and Regulatory Affairs at Aker BioMarine.
Read: Krill oil phospholipid omega-3 for osteoarthritis and joint health?
“Not only did Superba BOOST™ krill oil phospholipids significantly reduce knee pain, but it also improved stiffness and the physical function of the knee. An additional interesting finding in the study was that the participants with the greatest level of inflammation at the start of the study were the ones that had the biggest pain improvement. It is great to have an alternative treatment, without side effects, for people suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee.”
Nick Mann, CEO for Swisse’s parent company H&H Group for Australia, New Zealand and Asia said: “We are very pleased to have brought together high-quality partners from supply chain, research and industry to build a research collaboration that is not only scientifically meaningful, but also commercially valuable for all involved.”
Study details and results
The 235 healthy men and women who participated in the study were between 40 to 65 years of age who habitually consumed low amounts of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in their diets and no fish oil supplements and had all received a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee. The study ran for six months between 2018 and 2019, and participants were randomly divided into two groups: one placebo- group and one test group receiving four grams of krill oil per day providing 880 mg of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and 450 mcg of astaxanthin. Participants were assessed at baseline, three and six months.
The study showed that knee pain was improved in the krill oil group versus the placebo group over the six-month period. Additionally, knee stiffness and physical function had greater improvements in the krill oil group compared to placebo. The knee outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) numeric scale, the gold standard method for evaluating hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Furthermore, the level of Omega-3 (Index level) increased in people in the krill oil group from 6.0% at baseline to 8.9% at three months and 9.0% at six months. CSIRO principal research scientist and study lead, Dr Welma Stonehouse said rigorous science has an important role to play in validating the effectiveness of complementary medicines.
“Four years in the making, this clinical trial represents the largest, longest, and highest dose study to date investigating the effects of krill oil on osteoarthritis of the knee,” said Dr Stonehouse, CSIRO Principal Research Scientist.
Knee pain is a common sub-type of osteoarthritis, with studies showing that the global prevalence of knee OA was 30% in individuals aged 40 and over . Non-surgical relief of this pain typically involves use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Due to the adverse effects of these medications, researchers are in pursuit of effective, alternative treatments. Previous studies and clinical trials have suggested that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from marine sources might be one such alternative to relieve joint pain.
This study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is titled “Krill oil improved osteoarthritic knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: A 6-month multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial” and was authored by Welma Stonehouse, Bianca Benassi-Evans, Jana Bednarz, Andrew Vincent, Stephen Hall, and Catherine L. Hill.
About Aker BioMarine ASA
Aker BioMarine is a biotech innovator and Antarctic krill-harvesting company, dedicated to improving human and planetary health. Listed on Oslo Stock Exchange, the company develops krill-based ingredients for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical (Superba®), aquaculture (QRILL® Aqua), and animal feed applications (QRILL® Pet), including INVI™, a highly concentrated protein isolate, and LYSOVETA™, a targeted transporter of EPA and DHA from krill. Aker BioMarine’s fully transparent value chain stretches from sustainable krill harvesting in pristine Antarctic waters through its Montevideo logistics hub, Houston production plant, and to customers around the world. The company’s strong focus on sustainability inspired the launch of AION by Aker BioMarine, a circularity company dedicated to helping companies to recycle and reuse waste. Read more: www.akerbiomarine.com
About CSIRO
CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency, and one of the world’s largest mission-driven multidisciplinary science and research organisations. For more than a century, they have worked together with industry, government, universities and research organizations to solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology.
CSIRO is at the forefront of nutritional science and lifestyle research in Australia. Their research involves the complex relationship between the health of individuals, populations and the environment.
CSIRO’s Nutrition & Health Research Clinic, located in South Australia’s Biomedical precinct, offers an all-inclusive approach to phase II to IV clinical trials. Working closely with Research Scientists specialising in brain, gut and cardiometabolic health, they offer services including study protocol design and development, a dedicated Ethics Committee, multicentre study site management, and a standalone clinical site.
About Swisse and H&H Research
Swisse is an Australian vitamin, supplement and skincare brand founded in 1969. Swisse products are formulated with premium quality ingredients based on traditional evidence and scientific research. Swisse is part of the H&H Group, a global health and nutrition company headquartered in Hong Kong with a second head office in London, and operations in 14 countries.
H&H Research powers innovation within the H&H Group and its portfolio of brands. It drives new product development and technology, focusing on the science and innovation of ingredients, formulations, formats, and packaging, while ensuring regulatory compliance and quality assurance. This enables the Group to consistently deliver new and exciting premium, evidence-based products to human and pet consumers across the entire lifecycle. H&H Research has R&D centres in Australia, China and Ireland, with naturality and sustainability at the heart of the innovation process.
For more information, please contact:
Lisa Miller
Communications Director, US
Lisa.miller@akerbiomarine.com
+1 (281) 914-1304