Krill Oil Supplementation and Muscle Health in Older Age: Broad Benefits Without Boundaries?

The progressive decline of muscle mass, strength, and power observed with advancing age, is a major public health concern [1]. Identifying accessible interventions, including nutrition, to support muscle health in older adults has therefore become a scientific and clinical priority [2]. Through a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial [3], Hayman et al. [4] explored whether the effects of krill oil supplementation on muscle function and size differed according to sex, age, or body mass index (BMI) in adults aged ≥65 years. Participants were randomized to receive either 4 g/day of krill oil or an isocaloric control oil for six months. Outcome measures included knee extensor strength, grip strength, vastus lateralis muscle thickness assessed by ultrasonography, and surface electromyography parameters. The authors report that improvements in muscle strength and muscle size following krill oil supplementation were comparable across sexes, age groups, and BMI categories. These findings expand on the original trial indicating that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFA) from krill oil can increase muscle strength and thickness in older adults [3].