How Krill Oil Can Help Address a Hidden Risk in Weight Loss: Muscle Loss

Weight loss strategies — from GLP-1 drugs to calorie restriction diets — are delivering remarkable results on the scale. But behind the success lies a hidden risk: much of that weight loss can come from muscle, not fat.

Losing muscle mass weakens strength, reduces physical function, and slows metabolism — making long-term weight management more difficult. For individuals on any weight loss journey, protecting lean mass is essential.

That’s where Superba Krill plays a strategic, complementary role. When paired with weight loss strategies — from GLP-1 therapies to dietary programs — it helps protect muscle mass, ensuring weight loss comes from fat, not muscle.

The muscle loss dilemma

When people lose weight — whether through diet, medications, or both — they do not only lose fat. Research shows that approximately 25–30% of weight loss comes from fat-free mass (FFM), which includes muscle tissue (1,2). For many individuals, this translates to reduced strength, impaired functional capacity, and compromised metabolic regulation.

The rise of GLP-1-based therapies has further elevated the conversation. These medications deliver substantial weight loss, but data suggest that as much as 25% to 39% of the total weight lost may be muscle mass (3). This exceeds the natural age-related decline in muscle tissue and introduces potential long-term risks if not properly addressed.

In short: successful weight loss is not just about losing weight — it’s about preserving strength, resilience, and metabolic function along the way.

The Role of Nutrition: An Emerging Opportunity

Preserving muscle mass during weight loss can deliver significant health benefits. Muscle not only supports physical strength and function but also plays an essential role in metabolic regulation, glucose utilization, inflammation control, and immune system performance. Loss of muscle tissue can compromise these vital processes and undermine long-term weight maintenance success.

Nutritional support that targets muscle preservation can help:

• Maintain functional strength and mobility
• Support healthy metabolism and glucose balance
• Improve long-term outcomes from weight loss interventions
• Reduce the risk of metabolic and inflammatory complications

This creates a clear opportunity for innovative nutritional solutions to complement both dietary and pharmaceutical weight loss programs.

Krill Oil: A Complementary Nutrient Ally for Muscle Preservation and Healthy Metabolism

Krill oil offers a distinctive nutritional profile highly relevant for muscle health during weight loss. It delivers a natural combination of key nutrients, provided in a highly bioavailable phospholipid form, that work together to help protect muscle tissue:

• Choline is used to produce acetylcholine, which is needed for muscle contractions [4]. It also supports fat and protein metabolism by reducing fatty acid production and promoting muscle growth.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, promote muscle protein synthesis, improve mitochondrial function, and balance inflammation

These combined benefits make krill oil a promising supplement for maintaining muscle health and supporting a healthy metabolism while reducing fat.

This is particularly relevant in light of a newly published cross-sectional study in Frontiers, which found that individuals using GLP-1 medications for weight loss often have poor diet quality and fall short in key nutrients – including protein, choline, and several essential vitamins and minerals.⁵

Given that krill oil naturally delivers highly bioavailable choline, along with omega-3 fatty acids that support both metabolic and muscular health, it stands out as a valuable nutritional ally for individuals pursuing weight loss – especially those at risk of nutrient deficiencies due to dietary restrictions or reduced intake.

New Clinical Research: Krill Oil Helps Preserve Muscle During Weight Loss

Recent clinical research further supports krill oil’s potential to mitigate muscle loss during weight loss interventions.

In 2025, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study showed that individuals undergoing diet-induced weight loss who supplemented with Superba Krill showed better preservation of fat-free mass, muscle strength, and functional performance compared to placebo. (6) Moreover, plasma inflammatory markers were significantly lower in the krill oil group compared to the placebo group, further supporting its role in comprehensive metabolic health.

Both the krill oil group and the placebo group lost around 4.5 kg of weight during the intervention. But the composition of that weight loss was dramatically different.

• Krill Oil group: 4.6 kg total weight loss — with only 0.2 kg from muscle and 4.4 kg from fat.

• Placebo group: 4.5 kg total weight loss — but 1.2 kg from muscle and only 3.3 kg from fat.

With Superba Krill as a companion to weight loss strategies, 96% of weight loss came from fat and only 4% from muscle. In contrast, the placebo group lost 27% from muscle. Same weight loss, but a totally different composition

 Note: Calculations based on study data (table values) are used to illustrate differences.  Muscle loss (FFM) difference was statistically significant 

While total weight loss was similar between the krill oil and placebo groups, participants receiving krill oil were able to maintain muscle mass and strength more effectively — a key consideration for both short-term functional outcomes and long-term metabolic health.

In addition to the benefits with metabolic health and muscle maintenance, krill oil is also recognized for its benefits to enhance muscle mass and function. For instance, a six- month study involving 92 adults showed that daily supplementation of 4g/day of Superba Boost led to significant improvements; grip strength increased by 11%, knee extensor strength by 9% and thigh muscle thickness by 3.5% compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the krill oil group showed a 17% increase in the M-wave, which is linked to muscle strength and neuromuscular function.⁷

Beyond Muscle: Broader Metabolic Benefits

In addition to its impact on muscle preservation, krill oil also offers multiple metabolic benefits highly relevant for individuals undergoing weight management:

• Supports healthy blood lipid profiles
• Supports liver function
• Shown to reduce inflammation which may help preserve Fat Free Mass (FFM) and muscle functioning during weight loss

 These additional effects further strengthen krill oil’s positioning as a multi-functional ingredient supporting modern weight management.

A Science-Supported Solution for an Evolving Market

The study highlights an important distinction: weight loss is not all the same. Preserving lean muscle mass during weight loss is critical for sustaining strength, metabolism, and long-term health.

As a companion to weight loss interventions — whether diet, exercise, or GLP-1 use — Superba Krill provides a natural, clinically proven way to help protect muscle health while driving fat loss.

• With Superba Krill: 96% fat loss, just 4% muscle loss

• With placebo: 73% fat loss, 27% muscle loss

By safeguarding muscle, Superba Krill ensures weight loss is healthier and more sustainable — turning today’s weight loss strategies into smarter, more complete solutions.

Superba Krill offers:

• Clinically supported muscle preservation benefits during weight loss
• Synergistic action from omega-3 EPA & DHA, choline, and phospholipid-based delivery
• A natural, clean-label ingredient profile backed by science
• Compatible companion ingredient for both lifestyle and pharmaceutical-based weight loss strategies
  

As a trusted companion ingredient, Superba Krill bridges the gap between weight loss and muscle health — enabling smarter, more sustainable outcomes. To explore the full clinical evidence on krill oil’s role in preserving muscle mass and supporting a healthy metabolism during weight loss, download our whitepaper:

References: 

1. Turicchi, J. R.; et al. Associations between the proportion of fat-free mass loss during weight loss, changes in appetite, and subsequent weight change: results from a randomized 2-stage dietary intervention trial. Am J Clin Nutr, 2020. 111(3): p. 536-544.
2. Chaston, T.B., J. Dixon, and P.E. O’Brien, Changes in fat-free mass during significant weight loss: a systematic review. Int J Obes, 2007. 31(5): p. 743-750.

3. Conte, C.; et al. Is Weight Loss–Induced Muscle Mass Loss Clinically Relevant? JAMA, 2024.
4. Moretti, A., M. Paoletta, S. Liguori, M. Bertone, G. Toro, and G. Iolascon, Choline: an essential nutrient for skeletal muscle. Nutrients, 2020. 12(7): p. 2144
5. Johnson, B.; et al. Investigating nutrient intake during use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers, 2025. Volume 12.
6. Albalaji, M; et al. Benefits of Krill Oil Supplementation During Alternate-Day Fasting in Adults With Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Trial. Obesity, 2025
7. Alkhedhairi, S.A.; et al. The effect of krill oil supplementation on skeletal muscle function and size in older adults: A randomised controlled trial. Clin Nutr, 2022. 41: p. 1228-1235.