The hormone insulin is essential for overall health, since it helps regulate blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or cells cannot utilize insulin efficiently. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys the cells responsible for making insulin. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or cells become resistant to it. Research indicates that cod liver oil might have beneficial effects on diabetes.
Vitamin D
Cod liver oil is a rich source of vitamin D that might help prevent diabetes, according to researchers from Massey University in New Zealand. Subjects with insulin resistance were assigned to received 4,000 IU of vitamin D-3 or a placebo daily for six months. The study, published in the October 2009 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition," demonstrated that the vitamin D group experienced improvements in insulin sensitivity and resistance, both risk factors for diabetes, compared to those with a placebo.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Researchers from the University of Florida investigated the impact of omega-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil on children at increased risk for Type 1 diabetes. The report, published in the October 2007 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association," revealed that when children increased their intake of omega-3, they lowered their risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Omega-3 reduces the risk of the body attacking the cells responsible for making insulin.
Vitamin A
Cod liver oil is also rich in vitamin A, which might protect against the onset of Type 1 diabetes, according to researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Vitamin A also may protect against the inflammation caused when the body attacks itself in Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, according to research reported in the March 2008 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition."
Side Effects
Although cod liver oil has benefits for diabetes, the omega-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil might cause stomach upset, bleeding and abdominal pain. In addition, it may decrease vitamin E levels in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Consult your health care provider before consuming cod liver oil, especially if you are pregnant or taking medications.
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