Research Article

Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey

Volume: 4 Number: 4 December 15, 2020
EN

Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey

Abstract

Krill oil has many positive health effects since it is rich in omega-3, phospholipids and astaxanthin. In recent years, as a result of rapid population growth and industrialization, the toxic heavy metal levels have increased especially in aquatic environments. Therefore, it is also possible to take up heavy metals to the human body through food supplements such as krill oil. This study aims to determine the fatty acid composition and the amounts of lead, mercury and cadmium in five different krill oil capsules. A total of 35 fatty acids were analysed. It was determined that the five different krill oil capsules met a proportion of daily recommended omega-3 fatty acid (EPA + DHA) and omega-6 fatty acid intake. Mercury levels were <0.2 µg/kg, cadmium levels <3 µg/kg and lead levels <3 µg/kg in all samples. It was observed that the heavy metal amount was below the limits specified by the Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation. Based on the evaluation of the data obtained from our study, reliable krill oil capsules may be recommended for those who consume less than the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and for the vegetarians.

Keywords

Heavy metal, Krill oil, Omega-3, Omega-6, Fatty acid

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Foundation of Akdeniz University

Project Number

TKA-2018-4471

Thanks

Authors are thankful to Akdeniz University, Scientific Research Foundation about their financial supports.

References

  1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (2019). CERCLA priority list of hazardous substances. Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/spl/index.html
  2. Adıguzel, K. T., Isgin, K., & Pekcan, G. (2015). Krill Oil Supplementation and New Scientific Evidences. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi, 43(3), 258-263. Retrieved from https://beslenmevediyetdergisi.org/index.php/bdd/article/view/154
  3. Ambati, R. R., Phang, S.-M., Ravi, S., & Aswathanarayana, R. G. (2014). Astaxanthin: sources, extraction, stability, biological activities and its commercial applications—a review. Marine drugs, 12(1), 128-152. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3917265/pdf/marinedrugs-12-00128.pdf
  4. Asri, F. O., Sonmez, S., & Citak, S. (2007). The Effect of Cadmium on Environment and Human Health. Derim, 24(1), 32-39.
  5. Berge, R. K., Ramsvik, M. S., Bohov, P., Svardal, A., Nordrehaug, J. E., Rostrup, E., . . . Bjørndal, B. (2015). Krill oil reduces plasma triacylglycerol level and improves related lipoprotein particle concentration, fatty acid composition and redox status in healthy young adults-a pilot study. Lipids in health disease, 14(1), 163. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4678523/pdf/12944_2015_Article_162.pdf
  6. Bunea, R., El Farrah, K., & Deutsch, L. (2004). Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia. Altern Med Rev, 9(4), 420-428. Retrieved from https://www.foodie.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/krill-oil-cholesterol.pdf
  7. Calder, P. C. (2014). Very long chain omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids and human health. European journal of lipid science and technology, 116(10), 1280-1300. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejlt.201400025
  8. Calder, P. C. (2015). Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Effects, mechanisms and clinical relevance. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1851(4), 469-484. Doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.08.010
  9. Casula, M., Soranna, D., Catapano, A. L., & Corrao, G. (2013). Long-term effect of high dose omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for secondary prevention of cardiovascular outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trials. Atherosclerosis Supplements, 14(2), 243-251. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567568813700059?via%3Dihub
  10. Cunningham, E. (2012). Are krill oil supplements a better source of n-3 fatty acids than fish oil supplements? Journal of the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics, 112(2), 344. Retrieved from https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(11)01962-9/fulltext
APA
Seremet Kürklü, N., Başıbüyük, H. H., & Kamarlı Altun, H. (2020). Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 4(4), 418-424. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4
AMA
1.Seremet Kürklü N, Başıbüyük HH, Kamarlı Altun H. Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2020;4(4):418-424. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4
Chicago
Seremet Kürklü, Nilgün, Hasan Hüseyin Başıbüyük, and Hülya Kamarlı Altun. 2020. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels and Fatty Acid Compositions of Some Krill Oil Capsules Marketed in Turkey”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 4 (4): 418-24. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4.
EndNote
Seremet Kürklü N, Başıbüyük HH, Kamarlı Altun H (December 1, 2020) Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 4 4 418–424.
IEEE
[1]N. Seremet Kürklü, H. H. Başıbüyük, and H. Kamarlı Altun, “Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 418–424, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4.
ISNAD
Seremet Kürklü, Nilgün - Başıbüyük, Hasan Hüseyin - Kamarlı Altun, Hülya. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels and Fatty Acid Compositions of Some Krill Oil Capsules Marketed in Turkey”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 4/4 (December 1, 2020): 418-424. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4.
JAMA
1.Seremet Kürklü N, Başıbüyük HH, Kamarlı Altun H. Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2020;4:418–424.
MLA
Seremet Kürklü, Nilgün, et al. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels and Fatty Acid Compositions of Some Krill Oil Capsules Marketed in Turkey”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 4, no. 4, Dec. 2020, pp. 418-24, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4.
Vancouver
1.Nilgün Seremet Kürklü, Hasan Hüseyin Başıbüyük, Hülya Kamarlı Altun. Assessment of heavy metal levels and fatty acid compositions of some krill oil capsules marketed in Turkey. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2020 Dec. 1;4(4):418-24. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2020.4.4