Fish oil is a popular health supplement used by many people for a variety of health benefits, including reducing heart disease and blood pressure. One particular type of fish oil is cod liver oil, which has many of the same effects as regular fish oil, with subtle differences. Like all health supplements, you should ask your doctor before taking cod liver oil supplements.
Source
Cod liver oil is extracted from the livers of cod fish. In contrast to most other types of fish oil, which are made from the flesh of the entire fish, cod liver oil is made only from the liver. Another difference between cod liver oil and other fish oils is that typical fish oil supplements are made from a mixture of different fishes, often salmon, mackerel and herring, whereas cod liver oil is made only from cod fish.
Health Benefits
Cod liver oil contains high levels of many healthy compounds, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin D. The particular types of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, which are called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, have been linked to decreases in cholesterol and heart disease, explains MedlinePlus. Fish oil may have other health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and decreasing the symptoms of arthritis, however additional research is needed to support these claims.
Cod Liver Oil vs. Fish Oil
Although cod liver oil and fish oil are very similar, there are slight differences between the two. Cod liver oil tends to have slightly higher levels of DHA and EPA than other fish oils, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Cod liver oil also tends to have higher levels of vitamin D, which provide additional health benefits, explains an article published in 2005 in the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine."
Drawbacks of Cod Liver Oil
One potential drawback of cod liver oil is that it may contain excessively high levels of vitamin A, which can lead to cases of vitamin A toxicity when taken in large doses. Vitamins are often concentrated in the livers of fish, which is why cod liver oil contains higher levels of vitamins than fish oil made from the flesh of fish. Both cod liver oil and fish oil may cause mild side effects, including gastrointestinal effects including nausea, loose stools and diarrhea.
References
- "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine"; Fish Oil versus Cod Liver Oil: Is Vitamin D a Reason to Go Back to the Future; Celia M. Ross; 2005
- MedlinePlus: Fish Oil
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Essential Fatty Acids
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