title: Krill Oil Improves Mild Knee Joint Pain: A Randomized Control Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Krill oil is an edible oil extracted from krill, a small red-colored crustacean found in the Antarctic Ocean. The administration of krill oil is reported to mitigate inflammation in patients with cardiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. However, the effect of krill oil on mild knee pain has not yet been determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of krill oil on mild knee pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of fifty adults (38-85 years old) with mild knee pain attending the Fukushima Orthopedic Clinic (Tochigi, Japan) between September 2014 and March 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized to receive 2 g per day of either krill oil or an identical placebo for 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome was improvement in subjective symptoms of knee pain as assessed by the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA). Secondary outcomes included blood and urine biochemical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the placebo and krill oil groups showed significant improvements in the questions in the JKOM and JOA questionnaires after administration. After the intervention, krill oil group showed more improvements than placebo group in two questions regarding the pain and stiffness in knees in JKOM. Controlling for age, sex, weight, and smoking and drinking habits, krill oil significantly mitigated knee pain in sleeping (P < 0.001), standing (P < 0.001) and the range of motion of both right and left knees (both P = 0.011) compared to placebo. Krill oil administration raised plasma EPA (P = 0.048) and EPA/AA ratio (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that krill oil administration (2 g/day, 30 days) improved the subjective symptoms of knee pain in adults with mild knee pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN-CTR; ID UMIN000014413.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.|Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4982-5591
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.|Fukushima Orthopedic Clinic, Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.|Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keishoku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuraba
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.|Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawaki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekigawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D033201:Euphausiacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009821:Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010641:Phenotype; D013812:Therapeutics
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D009821:Oils