Although they both come from fish, cod liver oil and fish oil supplements are not the same thing. In fact, they have significant differences, although both contain the essential omega-3 fatty acids. Cod liver oil has a few drawbacks that do not apply to fish oil. Talk with your physician before taking either supplement.
Characteristics
Fish oil comes from a number of different cold-water fish, while cod liver comes from cod caught near Norway. Both fish oil supplements and cod liver oil are available over-the-counter. Because they're not regulated in the same way as food products, and because they come from living creatures which may vary from one to another, supplements don't always contain the same amount of nutrients. Cod liver oil usually comes in liquid form, which some people may have difficulty taking. Fish oil supplements usually come in capsule form.
Differences
While fish oil and cod liver oil both originate in fish, the difference between them is obvious in their name. Cod liver oil comes from the liver of the cod fish, while fish oil comes from the entire body of different types of fish. Cod liver oil contains vitamins A and D, which are not found in fish oil.
Benefits
Both cod liver oil and fish oil supply the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglyceride levels, act as antioxidants, which prevent cell damage and have anti-inflammatory properties. Taking fish oil may reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The additional vitamin D found in cod liver oil may benefit people deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is responsible for a weakened bone disorder called rickets, which was once a commonly found in children.
Caveats
Cod liver contains vitamin A, which can be toxic in large amounts. As little as 6,000 IU of vitamin A daily can have harmful effects on bone density and doses over 10,000 IU per day can cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women, reports the University of California, Berkeley's Wellnessletter.com. Since cod liver oil comes from the liver, it's more likely to contain contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly called PCBs. Both fish oil and cod liver oil can interfere with blood clotting. People who take blood thinners or who have bleeding disorders may bleed too much if they take any type of fish oil.
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