Bioeffective krill oil compositions
This disclosure discloses new krill oil compositions characterized by 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 greater than 30% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil, less than 3% free fatty acids w/w of said krill oil and astaxanthin esters.
2. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises greater than 40% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
3. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises greater than 45% 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.
6. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 5 , wherein said krill oil further comprises at least 20% omega-3 fatty acids as a percentage of total fatty acids in said composition.
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 about 3% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
9. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 2% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
10. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in the krill oil at in an amount of at least 100 mg/kg.
11. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in the krill oil at in an amount of at least 200 mg/kg.
12. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 0.45% arachidonic acid w/w of said krill oil, wherein w/w is the weight percent of arachidonic acid as a percent of total fatty acids.
13. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 0.5 g/100 g total cholesterol.
14. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 1 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 36% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, wherein w/w is the weight percent of omega-3 fatty acids as a percent of total fatty acids.
15. Encapsulated krill oil comprising a soft gel capsule containing Euphausia superba krill oil suitable for oral administration, said krill oil comprising greater than 30% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil, less than 3% free fatty acids w/w of said krill oil, less than about 3% lysophosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil and at least 100 mg/kg astaxanthin esters.
16. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 15 , wherein said krill oil comprises greater than 40% phosphatidylcholine w/w of said krill oil.
17. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 15 , wherein said astaxanthin esters are present in the krill oil at in an amount of at least 200 mg/kg.
18. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 15 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 0.45% w/w arachidonic acid, wherein w/w is the weight percent of arachidonic acid as a percent of total fatty acids.
19. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 15 , wherein said krill oil comprises less than about 0.5 g/100 g total cholesterol.
20. Encapsulated krill oil of claim 15 , wherein said krill oil comprises at least 36% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, wherein w/w is the weight percent of omega-3 fatty acids as a percent of total fatty acids.