Calanus Oil Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Calanus Oil interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Calanus Oil is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Calanus Oil is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy
Check Calanus Oil against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with Calanus Oil
0 medications have a known interaction with Calanus Oil, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Calanus Oil. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean
Severity — How Serious It Can Be
- Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
- Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
- Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
- No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.
Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented
- Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
- Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
- Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Where This Data Comes From
- Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
- Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Calanus Oil combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Calanus Oil: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Calanus oil is a marine omega-3 oil made from a small Arctic zooplankton (Calanus finmarchicus). It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids bound in a unique 'wax ester' form, and early research suggests possible benefits for metabolic and heart health, but the evidence is still preliminary. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a seafood allergy or are pregnant.
- Scientific name
- Calanus finmarchicus
- Family
- Calanidae
- Part used
- Oil extracted from the whole copepod (a tiny marine zooplankton)
- Common forms
- Softgel capsules, oil
- Heart and metabolic health
- Source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Anti-inflammatory support
- General wellness
- Exercise and weight management
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Generally well tolerated in early studies, but long-term safety data in people are limited.
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full pregnancy detailInsufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Calanus oil is an omega-3 oil made from Calanus finmarchicus, a tiny shrimp-like zooplankton called a copepod that lives in cold Arctic and North Atlantic waters. These copepods are harvested from the ocean and the oil is pressed from them.
Unlike fish oil or krill oil, much of the omega-3 in calanus oil is stored as wax esters. This means the fatty acids are attached to fatty alcohols rather than to glycerol. The oil also naturally contains a reddish pigment called astaxanthin, which acts as an antioxidant.
People typically take calanus oil in softgel capsules as a daily supplement, often for general wellness or as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.
How it works
Calanus oil delivers the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, the same beneficial fats found in fish oil, but in a different chemical form (wax esters). Researchers believe this form is absorbed more slowly and may reach the lower part of the gut, where it could influence fat metabolism in different ways.
Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to help lower inflammation and support healthy blood vessels and metabolism. The oil also contains astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant pigment, and small amounts of stearidonic acid, another omega-3 fat.
It is important to know that much of the proposed benefit comes from laboratory and animal studies. How well these effects translate to people is still being researched.
Does Calanus Oil work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
For Calanus Oil, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.
Also studied for 1 condition — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Physical performance
Preliminary clinical research in elderly females who do not regularly exercise shows that taking a calanus oil supplement containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 125 mg and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 105 mg daily, along with exercise training three times a week for 16 weeks, does not improve physical performance or age-associated muscle loss when compared with exercise training and placebo. A sub-analysis suggests that individuals taking the calanus oil supplement might improve their ability to get out of a chair.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
In the short-term human studies done so far, calanus oil has generally been well tolerated. However, long-term safety in large numbers of people is not well established.
People with a seafood or shellfish allergy should be cautious, since the oil comes from a marine animal and could trigger an allergic reaction. If you have a bleeding disorder or are scheduled for surgery, talk to your doctor first, as omega-3 oils may affect bleeding.
Because there is not enough safety data, pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid calanus oil unless a healthcare provider specifically recommends it. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting any new supplement.
Side effects
Reported side effects are usually mild. As with other marine oils, you might notice:
- Fishy aftertaste or burps
- Mild stomach upset, nausea, or loose stools
- Bad breath
Serious side effects appear to be uncommon in the studies available, but an allergic reaction is possible in people sensitive to seafood. Stop using it and seek care if you have hives, swelling, or trouble breathing.
Calanus Oil: Reported Adverse Effects
Documented safety reports on Calanus Oil from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.
Calanus oil seems to be well tolerated. In one safety study, taking calanus oil for 12 months was reported to cause a higher rate of mild atopic dermatitis (eczema) when compared with placebo.
- Cook CM, Larsen TS, Derrig LD, Kelly KM, Tande KS. Wax ester rich oil from the marine crustacean, Calanus finmarchicus, is a bioavailable source of EPA and DHA for human consumption. Lipids. 2016;51(10):1137-1144.
- Tande KS, Vo TD, Lynch BS. Clinical safety evaluation of marine oil derived from Calanus finmarchicus. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016;80:25-31.
- Dadová K, Petr M, Steffl M, et al. Effect of calanus oil supplementation and 16 week exercise program on selected fitness parameters in older women. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 14;12(2):481.
Dermatitis Dermatologic
Orally, calanus oil is associated with more reports of mild atopic dermatitis (eczema) over a 12-month period when compared with placebo.
Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
Dosing
There is no official, standardized dose of calanus oil. Studies have used a fairly small daily amount, often just a gram or two per day, but products and concentrations vary.
The best approach is to follow the dose printed on the product label and not exceed it. Because the amount of EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin differs between brands, ask your pharmacist to help you read the label and choose a reputable product.
Calanus Oil & Pregnancy
Calanus Oil & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 3 references that drive our Calanus Oil monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Cook CM, Larsen TS, Derrig LD, Kelly KM, Tande KS. Wax ester rich oil from the marine crustacean, Calanus finmarchicus, is a bioavailable source of EPA and DHA for human consumption. Lipids. 2016;51(10):1137-1144.
- Tande KS, Vo TD, Lynch BS. Clinical safety evaluation of marine oil derived from Calanus finmarchicus. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016;80:25-31. PubMed
- Dadová K, Petr M, Steffl M, et al. Effect of calanus oil supplementation and 16 week exercise program on selected fitness parameters in older women. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 14;12(2):481. PubMed
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Calanus Oil: Common Questions
What is Calanus Oil used for, and does it work?
Does Calanus Oil interact with prescription medications?
How are Calanus Oil interactions rated?
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What is Calanus Oil used for?
How is Calanus Oil different from fish oil or krill oil?
Is Calanus Oil safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Can I take Calanus Oil if I'm allergic to seafood?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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