Bioeffective krill oil compositions
Krill oil compositions are disclosed as having high amounts of phospholipids, astaxanthin esters and/or omega-3 contents. The krill oils are obtained from krill meal using supercritical fluid extraction in a two stage process. Stage 1 removes the neutral lipid by extracting with neat supercritical CO 2 or CO 2 plus approximately 5% of a co-solvent. Stage 2 extracts the actual krill oils by using supercritical CO 2 in combination with approximately 20% ethanol. The krill oil materials obtained are compared with commercially available krill oil and found to be more bioeffective in a number of areas such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant effects, improving insulin resistances and improving blood lipid profile.
1. Encapsulated krill oil comprising a capsule containing Euphausia superba krill oil suitable for oral administration, said krill oil comprising from 5.5% to 15% ether phospholipids w/w of said krill oil and astaxanthin esters.
2. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 30% total phospholipids w/w of said krill oil.
3. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 40% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
4. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said capsule contains a phytonutrient derived from a source other than krill.
5. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil further comprises from 20% to 50% w/w triglycerides of said krill oil.
6. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 5 , wherein said krill oil further comprises from 20% to 35% omega-3 fatty acids as a percentage of total fatty acids in said krill oil.
7. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said capsule is a soft gel capsule.
8. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than 3% free fatty acids w/w of said krill oil.
9. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 3% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
10. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 2% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
11. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 6% ether phospholipids w/w of said krill oil.
12. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in said krill oil at in an amount of at least 100 mg/kg.
13. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in said krill oil at in an amount of at least 200 mg/kg.
14. Encapsulated krill oil comprising a soft gel capsule containing Euphausia superba krill oil suitable for oral administration, said krill oil comprising from 5.5% to 15% ether phospholipids w/w of said krill oil and at least 100 mg/kg astaxanthin esters.
15. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 40% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
16. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said krill oil comprises from 6% to 15% ether phospholipids w/w of said krill oil.
17. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than 3% free fatty acids w/w of said krill oil.
18. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 3% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
19. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 2% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
20. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 14 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in the krill oil at in an amount of at least 200 mg/kg.