Can 8 weeks of supplementation with 4g/day of Krill oil reduce pain and enhance recovery from muscle damaging exercise in young, untrained, healthy men and women? Krill oil supplementation as an exercise recovery aid.

Anyone who has pushed themselves hard at the gym for the first time knows the deep, aching soreness that arrives a day or two later — known as delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. This discomfort can discourage people from continuing to exercise, and in some cases increases injury risk. This trial is exploring whether taking krill oil — an omega-3 supplement derived from small Antarctic crustaceans — can reduce that post-exercise pain and help muscles recover faster. For eight weeks, healthy inactive adults aged 18–35 will take either 4 grams of krill oil or a placebo each day. At the end of the supplementation period, participants will undergo a standardised bout of muscle-damaging exercise, and researchers will measure pain levels, muscle function, swelling, and markers of muscle damage in the blood. Sleep quality and menstrual-related pain will also be tracked. You may be eligible if you are between 18 and 35 years old, have not done structured resistance training in the last six months, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and have a BMI between 18.5 and 27. People with shellfish allergies, bleeding disorders, or chronic health conditions are not eligible. The study is run by Deakin University.