Cod liver oil is a type of fish oil that may provide certain health benefits due to its omega-3 fatty acid content. Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, the omega-3s found in cod liver oil and other fish oil supplements, are associated with anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning effects. These effects may benefit conditions such as arthritis and heart disease. Cod liver oil also provides high amounts of vitamins A and D. Cod liver oil is also associated with certain health risks, so be sure to talk to your doctor before taking this supplement.
Dosages for Heart Health
Like other types of fish oil, cod liver oil is considered to be an effective treatment for high blood triglycerides that can lead to heart disease. According to MedlinePlus, the dosage of fish oil proven to effectively reduce high triglycerides is 1 g to 4 g per day. Many cod liver oil supplements in softgel capsule form provide 1 g, or 1,000 mg, of fish oil per capsule, which would equate to a dosage of one to four capsules daily, under a physician's supervision, for the treatment of high triglycerides. Fish oil is also considered by MedlinePlus to be "likely effective" in preventing death from heart disease when taken at a dosage providing 300 mg to 6 g of EPA and 600 mg to 3.7 g of DHA daily. However, as cod liver oil only provides about 100 mg each of EPA and DHA per gram, it may not be possible to safely take enough cod liver oil for this health purpose.
Dosages for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cod liver oil may also be potentially useful in treating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as joint pain and stiffness. However, further clinical research is required to determine whether the amounts of omega-3s contained in safe dosages of cod liver oil are sufficiently high to effectively treat rheumatoid arthritis. According to the results of a study published in "Advances in Therapy" in 2002, patients with rheumatoid arthritis who took 1 g of cod liver oil daily for three months experienced significant decreases in morning stiffness, painful, swollen joints, and overall joint pain intensity. According to MedlinePlus, however, the "possibly effective" dose of fish oil omega-3s required to treat rheumatoid arthritis is 3.8 g daily of EPA and 2 g daily of DHA, amounts which aren't possible to achieve using cod liver oil in the dosages recommended by most cod liver oil supplement manufacturers.
Safety of Standard Cod Liver Oil Dosages
According to MedlinePlus, fish oil supplements are likely safe when taken in recommended dosages not exceeding 3 g per day. However, cod liver oil poses certain safety risks even when taken at standard dosages. Cod liver oil supplements, and especially liquid forms, contain very high amounts of vitamin A, which could lead to toxic levels of this vitamin in the body. According to the UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Supplements, UCBWG, just one teaspoon of cod liver oil may contain up to 4,500 IU of A, and the standard dose is 1 to 3 tsp. per day. It is important not to take cod liver oil in amounts that provide more than 6,000 IU of vitamin A per day, as this may result in negative health consequences such as weak bones, according to UCBWG. Because it comes from an organ that filters out toxins, cod liver oil may also contain more dangerous contaminants than other fish oils, cautions UCBWG.
Considerations
Although cod liver oil provides high amounts of both vitamin A and D that may be helpful for people who don't get enough of these vitamins, it only provides about half of the amount of the omega-3 fatty acids contained in the same amount of fish oil obtained from the fat of cold water fish, according to Ray Sahelian, M.D. Therefore, unless your doctor has recommended vitamin A and D supplementation, a standard "fish oil" supplement may provide more health benefits than cod liver oil. All fish oils, including cod liver oil, have contraindications for people with certain health conditions, such as liver disease, and for people taking certain medications, including blood-thinners, blood pressure medications and others. Do not take cod liver oil without first checking with your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to take this supplement.
References
- UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements: Cod Liver Oil
- U.S. National Library of Medicine Dietary Supplements Labels Database: Products that contain Active Ingredient -- Cod Liver Oil
- MedlinePlus; Fish Oil; February 2011
- U.S. National Library of Medicine Dietary Supplements Labels Database: Wonder Labs Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, Maximum Strength
- RaySahelian.com; Cod Liver Oil Benefits and Side Effects: Ray Sahelian
- "Advances in Therapy"; Effect of Cod Liver on Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis; Joerg Gruenwald, et al.; August 2002
Member Comments