Is Fish Oil Or Cod Liver Oil More Beneficial?

Both fish oils and cod liver oils offer a range of benefits inside the human body. Some of the benefits relate to the omega 3 content offered by both, with the additional vitamin content of the cod liver oil providing specific benefits in cases of vitamin D deficiency. Your personal requirements may determine which is more beneficial for you.

Uses

Both fish oils and cod liver oils contain omega 3 oils, which appear to exert a very beneficial effect across a wide range of body systems. Dr. Joseph Mercola, the U.S. physician who wrote "The No Grain Diet," explains that humans have evolved with a particular balance of omega 6s to omega 3s, and that the majority of the population require a lot more of the latter for optimum health. He lists improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, better fat-burning and enhanced brain health as some of the benefits associated with these oils.

EPA and DHA

Although omega 3s exist in a number of forms, almost all the beneficial effects relate to the actions of EPA and DHA. So says Udo Erasmus, PhD, a nutritional researcher and an expert on lipid biochemistry, who notes that these two long-chain omega 3s can improve insulin sensitivity, improve cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation. Both cod liver oil and fish oil offer around 300 mg of the long-chain omega 3s per gram. In this regard, both cod liver oil and fish oil offer a very similar dose of the active omega 3 compounds.

Vitamin Content

The biggest difference between the two oils centers around the vitamin content offered by cod liver oil. Whereas fish oils provide a small amount of vitamin A and D, cod liver oil contains a high concentration of these two fat-soluble nutrients. The National Institutes of Health says that cod liver oil offers around 1,360 international units of vitamin D per teaspoon. Because fat-soluble nutrients can accumulate in the body if consumed in excess, some institutions advise against unrestricted use of cod liver oil.

Conclusion

Both oils offer a number of benefits due to their omega 3 content. However, only cod liver oil provides a concentrated source of the fat-soluble vitamins. With this in mind, cod liver oil may benefit you more should you wish to boost your intake of omega 3s, vitamin A and vitamin D. However, if you want more omega 3s without the additional fat-soluble nutrients, then fish oils are the sensible choice.