VCVITAMINS/CHART

The Bottom Line

Yes, you can safely take probiotics and krill oil together — there is no significant interaction between these two supplements.

VERDICT

Probiotics and Krill Oil together are safe to combine; they work through different pathways and do not interfere with each other. You can add krill oil to your routine while continuing your probiotic supplement.

Safe to combine Moderate evidence
01 / MECHANISM

How They Interact

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that colonize the large intestine, while krill oil provides EPA and DHA omega-3s carried as phospholipids plus astaxanthin. They are absorbed and used through independent mechanisms: probiotics primarily act in the gut, while krill oil is digested and absorbed in the small intestine as fatty acids. There is no shared receptor or transport system that would cause competition. In fact, krill oil's anti-inflammatory effects may support a healthy intestinal lining, which could indirectly favor a balanced microbiome. Still, no direct interaction exists, so timing between them is not critical.

02 / BEST PRACTICES

How To Take Them

To get the most out of both, establish a consistent daily rhythm. Take krill oil with your largest meal — lunch or dinner — to boost absorption of EPA and DHA. Take probiotics at a different time of day, such as morning or before bed, but this is a preference, not a requirement. If you miss a dose of either, simply take it with your next meal; never take a double dose. Always follow the serving size on the label and check with your pharmacist or dietitian if you take prescription blood thinners.

03 / FORM MATTERS

Form & Quality Differences

The form matters mainly for individual absorption and storage, not for interaction. Krill oil is typically taken as a softgel, and taking it with a meal containing fat improves digestion. Probiotic efficacy depends on strain and delivery; some are enteric-coated to survive stomach acid, but this has no bearing on combining with krill oil. Keep probiotics stored as labeled, often refrigerated, while krill oil should be kept cool and away from sunlight.

04 / COMMON STACKS

Where This Pair Shows Up

Not typically sold as a single combination product, but both are frequently included in custom daily supplement packs that bundle a multivitamin, omega-3s, and a probiotic.

Multivitamins Prenatals Performance Longevity
05

Practical Tips

06

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Should Be Careful If you take warfarin or other anticoagulants, check with your doctor before adding krill oil, as omega-3s can mildly affect clotting. People with a compromised immune system — such as those on chemotherapy or organ transplant recipients — should ask before taking probiotics, especially Saccharomyces boulardii, due to a rare risk of fungal infection. Pregnant or breastfeeding women can generally use both, but it is always wise to review all supplements with your obstetrician.
08

Sources & Further Reading

  1. NIH ODS NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Probiotics Fact Sheet
  2. NIH ODS NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet
  3. Examine.com Examine.com — Probiotics page
  4. Examine.com Examine.com — Krill Oil page

Reviewed by Caroline M. on April 8, 2025 for accuracy against the sources listed above. This page is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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The matrix has 86 supplements and 7310 pairwise interactions. Click any cell to see the full breakdown.

Back To The Vitamins Chart All Probiotics (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces boulardii strains) Interactions All Krill Oil Interactions