Why xSpan Labs Superba Krill Oil?
xSpan Labs use only Superba Krill from Aker Biomarine, a company that can draw on over 100 years of fishing experience, with over a decade of that specifically harvesting krill oil.
Superba Krill Oil has been clinically proven in many published and ongoing trials, with over 20 published studies in the last 4 years alone using the Superba brand. In studies, Superba Krill has also been shown to increase the Omega-3 Index faster and more efficiently compared to other marine sources.
Aker Biomarine has been independently certified for a well-managed and sustainable fishery and takes its responsibilities to the long term future of the krill population very seriously. Superba is highly sustainable and 100% traceable from sea to shelf, a point that is proven using GPS location on every single batch!
Unlike other sources of Omega 3 such as fish oil, Superba Krill Oil requires no refining. This is because:
- Superba Krill is harvested from the pristine clean waters of the Antarctic Ocean.
- Krill is low down in the food chain
- Krill has a relatively low life cycle
All of this means that Superba Krill is completely pure in it's natural form, free from any environmental pollutants. When you use Superba Krill Oil you only ever get pure krill oil - nothing more, nothing less.
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil
Krill oil, like fish oil, contains both of the omega-3 fats, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), but hooked together in a different form. In krill oil the majority of the omega 3s is in phospholipid form and not in triglyceride form as in fish oil.
A study by Werner et al demonstrated essential fatty acids in the form of phospholipids were superior to essential fatty acids as triglycerides in significantly increasing the phospholipid concentrations of EPA and DHA.
This means krill oil omega 3s are identical to the lipids in the human cell membrane, whereas fish oils are not. Fish oil needs to be made into phospholipids by the liver. This conversion process is inefficient and does not guarantee that the fish EPA and DHA ends up in the cell membrane.
Basically, although fish oils appear to have higher Omega 3 value than Krill, the nutritional value is higher in Krill. The Krill Oil phospholipid omega 3s are absorbed by the body's cells 60% more efficiently compared to other marine sources.
A further study by Bunea et al compared the effect of krill oil and fish oil on blood lipids, specifically total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL. In this study "krill oil was significantly more effective than fish oil for the reduction of glucose, triglycerides, and LDL levels."
From a consumption view point Krill also has excellent tolerability when compared to other sources of Omega oils. A smaller dose is required and the dreaded 'fishy burps' are avoided as krill oil is reflux free.
Krill Oil also contains the ultra potent antioxidant Astaxanthin, from which it gets its red pigment.
Superba Krill Oil
Supplementing your diet with Krill Oil is a must to help improve your general health and well-being. Superba Krill uses only endorsed eco-harvesting methods which result in minimal environmental impact. The innovative and sustainable krill harvesting processes will ensure future generations can benefit from this incredible nutrition-packed resource.
Superba Krill Oil has superb quality and purity that comes from a single source; Euphausia superba, better known as krill. This supplement is produced using no other species than Euphausia superba unlike many other marine oils that come from multiple small sources that are pooled together in a larger batch.
The Antarctic krill lives in the coldest and purest sea waters on the planet. The southern hemisphere is dominated by sea water, with clear land uninhibited by agriculture and industry. For this reason the Antarctic Ocean is one of the cleanest oceans on the planet, which makes Superba Krill Oil a totally pure, natural product.
The Superba krill oil used in this supplement is produced by the Norwegian firm Aker BioMarine. Aker BioMarine tracks krill from catch to sale, a process called traceability. Their supply has 100% traceability throughout the whole supply chain and can even be traced back to the exact GPS coordinates where the krill was harvested. Aker’s proprietary harvesting technique eliminates by-catch, releasing other sealife back into the waters unharmed. Third-party onboard observers have reported zero by-catch.
Aker Biomarine is also the only krill oil supplier to manage their own fishery. Full vertical integration allows for Aker Biomarine to control quality throughout the supply chain and appropriately allocate the richest raw material to oil production. Aker actively collaborates with CCAMLR (www.ccamir.org) and WWF Norway (www.wwf.org) to observe and protect the resources of the Southern Ocean, promote sustainable harvesting, promote traceability of fishery products, promote eco-friendly harvesting and combat illegal fishing. Aker welcomes third-party scientific observers onboard their boats to utilize their onboard laboratory as a base for scientific research and observation of the ecosystem.
Eco Harvesting systems enables Aker BioMarine to produce krill oil from fresh raw krill, processed while still at sea. Traditional trawling is unsuitable for krill harvesting. The Antarctic krill holds very potent digestive enzymes, and it basically self-destructs before there is time to process it. Eco Harvesting means the equipment stays under water while a continuous stream of water flows through the hose, bringing the live and fresh krill directly onto the factory vessel. This allows for processing of fresh raw material directly onboard the floating Life Science Factory, which again means bioactive components are retained for superior product quality.
xSpan Labs Krill Oil Capsules are manufactured in the UK to GMP code of practice. Only the finest quality raw materials in their highest grade and purest form are used.
Reviews
Each capsule contains 500mg of krill oil, costing 28p/capsule and with a 2 capsule per day recommended dosage. I will take 2-3 capsules per day which works out to a minimum of £0.56/day, which is a little on the pricey side when compared to fish oil. These are presented in a slimline plastic tub which is recyclable and convenient due to the size and shape, fitting through the letterbox etc. The capsules have no real aftertaste and give no fishy burps, and seem good quality with a deep red colour. Clinical trials on krill oil are generally in the range of 1-3g, so this supplement provides enough in 2 capsules to meet clinically relevant dosages. This seems like a very high quality supplement, and while it's not the most expensive krill oil supplement, it's certainly not cheap. While krill oil has a higher bioavailability than fish oil, the omega-3 content in this is very small compared to a high quality fish oil. There are trials on krill oil showing improvements in cholesterol, triglycerides, arthritis and more.
Krill oil tends to cost more than generic Omega-3 products, but there are several alternatives on Amazon that are cheaper pro rata than this pack. Something odd is happening with the pricing, as earlier reviews say the pack last year was £10, then £14, and now it's £17. There is an interesting claim as follows: “A smaller dose is required compared to other sources of Omega oils, and the dreaded 'fishy burps' are avoided as krill oil is reflux free.” A larger dose of ordinary Omega oils would still be cheaper, and you either suffer from reflux or you don't (I don't). It ticks the eco boxes, if that’s a consideration for you.
We have been taking cod liver oil for quite a few years to maintain our levels of Omega 3 and get all the health benefits that result. These little capsules are a very good alternative that extract the Omega fats from krill harvested in the antarctic, because the water there is so pure, the krill oil is also pure, it is also sustainable. Fortunately there is no fishy taste to these capsules and their red colour is very distinctive. We will almost certainly be carrying on using these once this pack has been finished.
This is the first time I've tried Krill oil, having previously used other Omega 3 supplements. I'm pleased that this seems to be a well formulated mix, made using not a (potentially) negative process (i.e. cold pressing rather than heat etc), and also sustainable I think. They're easy to take, tasteless and don't have an aftertaste. Lastly it may be a little trivial bit I like that the container being flat stores compactly unlike round bottles.
These are distinctive red softgels containing 1000mg (500mg each) krill oil. This provides a rich source of astaxanthin and choline for immune support and liver function. The Omega 3 also helps with cognitive function. I like the flat pack bottle, but there is no indication that the packaging is recyclable. Good value for money.