Investigating the Effects of Krill Oil on the Recovery From Muscle Damaging Exercise: a Randomised Controlled Trial

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW · Apr 14, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of krill oil, a type of supplement made from small shrimp-like creatures, on how well people recover from exercises that can cause muscle soreness or damage. Specifically, the researchers want to see if taking krill oil can help older adults recover better after doing strength training exercises. To take part in this study, you need to be at least 60 years old and not exercising with weights for more than an hour each week. You also need to have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 and not have certain health conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

If you join the trial, you'll have several visits at the University of Glasgow where you'll undergo various tests, including blood samples and muscle strength measurements. You’ll be randomly assigned to take either krill oil or a vegetable oil for eight weeks. After this period, you'll do some exercise designed to challenge your muscles, and researchers will check how sore you feel and how well you recover. Overall, the trial is aimed at understanding whether krill oil can help improve muscle recovery, which could be valuable for older adults looking to maintain strength and mobility.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Be 60 years old or older
• • Have a BMI of less than 30kg/m2
• • Participating in resistance-type exercise for less than 1h per week
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diabetes
• • Severe cardiovascular disease defined as arrythmia, valve disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, congenital heart disease or myocardial infarct.
• • Seizure disorders
• • Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure higher than 150/90mmHg at baseline measurement)
• • Cancer or cancer that has been in remission for less than 5 years
• • Ambulatory impairments limiting the ability to perform muscle function assessments
• • Dementia
• • Taking medications known to affect muscle (like steroids)
• • Having an implanted electronic device (such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, or insulin pump)
• • Allergies to seafood
• • Regular consumption of more than one portion of oily fish per week