A nutraceutical approach to knee osteoarthritis: Exploring the benefits of krill oil

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Created On: 24/08/2026

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common degenerative joint ailment, is marked by pain, stiffness, and impaired physical function.

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Key take away

Krill oil supplementation improves pain and physical function in knee osteoarthritis, with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common degenerative joint ailment, is marked by pain, stiffness, and impaired physical function. Although conventional therapies can help tackle symptoms, interest is growing in nutritional and nutraceutical approaches that may provide additional support. Krill oil, a marine-derived source of omega-3 fatty acids, has attracted attention because of its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the clinical efficacy and safety of krill oil supplementation in KOA and explored potential biological mechanisms underlying its effects.

Method

Researchers systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring krill oil supplementation in KOA-affected patients. Eligible studies were chosen as per the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted study data. Pooled analyses were performed via RevMan 5.4, while methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated via the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Result

A total of 6 RCTs involving 971 participants were included. Krill oil supplementation was associated with improvements in key symptoms of KOA.

Pain: Krill oil remarkably improved pain, with benefits observed in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores at week 4.
Physical function: Significant improvement was also observed in WOMAC physical function.
Stiffness: Krill oil elicited a moderate beneficial effect on stiffness.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C): Supplementation noticeably increased HDL-C levels.
Omega-3 levels: Krill oil significantly raised omega-3 fatty acid levels.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): No significant effect was observed.
C-reactive protein (CRP): Krill oil did not markedly alter CRP levels.
Safety: No significant adverse events were reported across the included studies.

The mechanistic assessment suggested that the potential benefits of krill oil may be linked to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which could contribute to symptom improvement in KOA.

Conclusion

Krill oil supplementation appeared to be a promising nutraceutical option for tackling the symptoms of KOA, particularly pain and impaired physical function. Its effects on stiffness, HDL-C, and omega-3 levels further supported potential clinical and metabolic benefits, while the absence of significant adverse events indicated a favorable safety profile.