Published in Metabolites and partially funded by Zooca, the research concluded that cardiac function, metabolic health and insulin sensitivity significantly improved following 12 weeks of calanus oil supplementation.
The independent researchers from Leibniz University Hannover, Germany reported measurable improvement in diastolic heart function, which is how the heart relaxes and fills between beats, in women with obesity and prediabetes.
“This variable is clinically relevant, as diastolic dysfunction is an early and often silent sign of cardiovascular disease,” Snorre Angell, Zooca’s CEO, told NutraIngredients.
“The improvement in diastolic function was unexpected, particularly since participants were not preselected for cardiac dysfunction. This makes the observation especially interesting from a scientific perspective.”
In the case of occasional blood sugar irregularities found in the early stages of metabolic dysfunction, maintaining normal blood sugar levels is essential for optimal health and healthy aging.
“Improvements in both cardiac and metabolic markers after only 12 weeks of nutritional intervention are encouraging and suggest that Zooca Calanus Oil could hold preventive potential in cardiometabolic health,” Angell added.
Marianne Mæhlum, chief marketing and innovation officer, said that the study also demonstrated benefits in metabolic balance, as measured by metabolic syndrome severity score (Met-S score) and triacylglycerol glucose–waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR).
“This is the first time we have been able to demonstrate that Zooca Calanus Oil is effective on metabolic markers,” she told NI, adding that it is uncommon for a single nutritional intervention to show effects in both cardiac and metabolic health simultaneously.
She noted that the study population of obese women with occasional blood sugar irregularities faces an increased cardiometabolic risk but is often underrepresented in clinical research.
“Generating new evidence in this demographic adds valuable insight into how nutrition can support healthy aging and early prevention for women,” she said.
Omega-3 and diabetes
As of 2024, approximately 589 million adults between the ages of 20 and 79 worldwide are living with diabetes, representing about 10.5% of the global adult population. By 2045, projections from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that one in eight adults, approximately 783 million people, will be living with diabetes—representing a 46% increase from current figures. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for the majority of these cases.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have been shown to possess cardiometabolic-promoting effects. Furthermore, EPA and DHA can promote vasodilation, thereby enhancing endothelial function and contributing to overall cardiovascular health. It is also understood that EPA+DHA supplementation has a positive effect on left ventricular systolic function in patients with heart failure.
Calanus oil is a sustainable marine source of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3 PUFAs), derived from the lipid-rich copepod Calanus finmarchicus. It also contains antioxidants such as astaxanthin, plant sterols and fatty alcohols.
Whereas the fatty acids (FAs) are primarily bound to triacylglycerols (TAGs) in fish oil and to phospholipids in krill oil, 80% are bound as wax esters in calanus oil.
Study details
Twenty middle-aged, obese women with prediabetes and no history of cardiac complications were enrolled and received 4 grams a day of calanus oil, providing 276 mg EPA + 256 mg DHA, for 12 weeks.
Systolic and diastolic cardiac function, including the E/A ratio (E/A), was assessed by echocardiography. The E/A ratio is a marker of the function of the left ventricle of the heart, representing the ratio of peak early diastolic filling (E-wave) to peak late diastolic filling (A-wave).
In addition, central blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were analyzed by oscillometry. Metabolic health was evaluated using composite markers, including the metabolic syndrome severity score (Met-S score) and the triacylglycerol glucose–waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR).
Findings indicated E/A and metabolic health both significantly improved, as shown by a reduced Met-S score and a lower TyG-WHtR and reflecting decreased metabolic syndrome severity and enhanced insulin sensitivity. In addition, a significant reduction in diastolic BP, resting heart rate, but not PWV or systolic BP was observed.
The findings align with previous clinical results where Zooca Calanus Oil was found to increase the pumping capacity of heath in elderly women (Stephan et al. 2021). The results are also consistent with prior preclinical findings (Jansen et al. 2019) that dietary Calanus oil improved post-ischemic cardiac recovery and myocardial metabolism in obese female mice.
While these exploratory results suggest metabolic and hemodynamic benefits, the underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance require further investigation, particularly due to the absence of a placebo group.
“Zooca’s research continues to focus on the intersection between metabolic and cardiovascular health,” Angell said. “Upcoming studies will further explore how Zooca Calanus Oil can support glucose management/insulin sensitivity, and healthy body fat and muscle management.
“The overall goal is to deepen understanding of how slow-release marine lipids can contribute to long-term cardiometabolic wellness and healthy aging in both men and women.”
Source: Metabolites 2025, 15(9), 596. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15090596. “Effects of 12 Weeks of Calanus Oil Supplementation on Cardiac Diastolic Function in Obese and Prediabetic Women—A Pilot Study”. Authors: Kerlikowsky, F. et al
