The results revealed that, compared to those with the lowest consumption of UPFs (three servings/day), individuals with the highest consumption (seven servings/day) faced a modest four percent increased risk of death from all causes. But, when considering specific causes of death, the highest UPF intake was associated with an eight percent greater risk of death from neurodegenerative diseases.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 57 percent of daily energy intake among adults and 67 percent among youth in the U.S. comes from UPFs, underscoring their potential impact on public health. The NHANES describes UPFs as, “…industrial formulations made mostly or entirely from substances derived from food, including flavors, colors, texturizers, and other additives, with little if any intact whole food.”^{1 2} These foods are typically higher in energy density (i.e., high calorie) and low in nutritional value, as they tend to be devoid of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and high in added sugars, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats.

Krill Oil Improves Skin Barrier Function

A pair of studies from England conducted in 2024³ has shown that taking krill oil may improve skin barrier function, citing significant benefits to skin hydration and elasticity. In the first study, participants were given 1g of krill oil per day, and in the second study, participants were given 2g of krill oil daily. The researchers measured participants’ transepidermal water-loss (a marker of water retention in the skin), omega-3 levels, skin hydration, and elasticity at six weeks and again at 12 weeks. In both groups, significant improvements were seen in all four measured outcomes at both six and 12 weeks, with the greatest benefits occurring in the higher dose group at 12 weeks, suggesting a dose-dependent relationship.

Krill oil comes from tiny shrimp-like crustaceans, and it not only contains the omega-3s EPA and DHA, but these essential fatty acids are primarily bound to phospholipids, which gives krill oil a unique lipid profile compared to other omega-3 sources. The researchers propose that since both phospholipids and omega-3s have a beneficial impact on skin barrier function, it is likely that the distinctive combination of these nutrients in krill oil exerts synergistic effects.

Furthermore, the researchers reference previous animal studies with krill oil, which found that supplementation increases expression of hyaluronic acid and collagen-related genes, upregulating these important skin-protecting macromolecules and suggesting an additional mechanism of action for how krill oil supports skin barrier function.

References