Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Krill Oil Supplementation for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults
Javier A Tamargo1, Ellie Carvajal2, Katarina Simic2
1Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Background:
Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is highly prevalent in older adults and the leading cause of disability. Long-chain omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, yet intake and circulating levels are low in older US adults. Krill oil, a phospholipid-bound source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that also contains astaxanthin and choline, may represent a feasible nutrition-based intervention for chronic MSK pain.
Objectives:
To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of krill oil supplementation in older adults with chronic MSK pain and to characterize changes in ω-3 status and exploratory pain outcomes.
Methods:
A 12-wk, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial in 40 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 y with moderate chronic MSK pain. Participants were stratified by sex and randomly assigned 1:1 to krill oil (4 g/d; 1288 mg EPA+DHA) or placebo. Primary outcomes were feasibility metrics (recruitment, retention, adherence, and acceptability). Secondary outcomes included biomarkers of ω-3 status and inflammation. Exploratory outcomes included pain intensity, pain interference, pain distribution, and global improvement.
Results:
Recruitment targets were met within 8 mo; retention was 95%, adherence exceeded prespecified thresholds (>70%) in both groups, and overall acceptability was rated 7.7 ± 2.3 of 10. Krill oil supplementation increased the ω-3 index from 4.3% to 7.4%, approaching levels consistent with lower cardiometabolic risk (≥8%), whereas the placebo group showed no meaningful change. Preliminary analyses showed trends favoring krill oil for reduced pain intensity (ΔKO - ΔP = ‒1.05), fewer pain sites (rate ratio: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.41, 0.84), and global improvement (adjusted odds ratio: 4.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.97, 19.55). No serious adverse events occurred.
Conclusions:
Krill oil supplementation was feasible and acceptable among older US adults with chronic MSK pain. These findings support a fully powered randomized controlled trial to evaluate krill oil as a nutritional strategy for pain management in aging populations. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT06580912.
