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Is Cod Liver Oil Safe During Breastfeeding and Pregnancy?

Jun 11, 2011 | By Amanda Lynch
Is Cod Liver Oil Safe During Breastfeeding and Pregnancy?
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While fish oils such as cod liver oil have been associated with many health benefits, you may be concerned about taking supplements during your pregnancy. While, as with any dietary supplement, side effects are associated with cod liver oil, the good news is that research has revealed a wealth of benefits to your baby if you take cod liver oil while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The National Institutes of Health have deemed fish oils "likely safe" for consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but talk with your physician about whether cod liver oil supplements are right for you.

Cod liver oil supplements are one way of taking omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil. Fish oil has been associated with increased cardiovascular health -- people take it to lower their triglyceride levels, prevent heart disease, lower their blood pressure and prevent stroke. According to MedlinePlus, evidence also indicates that fish oils may contribute to a lessening of symptoms of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and bipolar disorder.

Fish oil can be found in fatty fish like mackerel, salmon and tuna or in supplement form. The American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women take a high-quality fish oil supplement rather than get their fish oil directly from fish, which may contain high levels of mercury. It is recommended that pregnant women get at least 300 mg of docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, found in fish oil, each day.

Cod Liver Oil and Diabetes

Researchers in Norway studied how the use of cod liver oil supplements by pregnant women impacted the likelihood of their children being diagnosed with Type 1, juvenile-onset, diabetes. Their results, published in the November 2000 issue of "Diabetologia," indicated that mothers who took cod liver oil while they were pregnant had significantly less chance of having a baby who would later be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The researchers hypothesized that either the vitamin D or the n-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil may help protect against diabetes.

Cod Liver Oil and Your Baby's IQ

Omega-3 fatty acids are said to boost your brain power, so it's not surprising that researchers would want to investigate whether they have an effect on babies. Research published in the January 2003 issue of "Pediatrics" revealed that cod liver oil supplements in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers were associated with a higher IQ in their children at four years of age. Researchers compared mothers who took cod liver oil supplements with mothers who took corn oil, and they found a significant difference in their children's mental-processing scores. The researchers attributed the difference to the increased DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid in cod liver oil -- both of which are considered very-long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Talk with your physician about whether cod liver oil supplements could be a good choice for you.

Potential Side Effects

While fish oils like cod liver oil have demonstrated themselves to be beneficial to your health, be aware of potential side effects. Obviously, if you are allergic to fish, you should not take cod liver oil. Minor side effects may occur when you take cod liver oil, such as belching, bad breath and gastrointestinal distress like nausea or diarrhea. More serious side effects associated with fish oils tend to occur at high doses. Since fish oils can prevent blood from clotting, megadoses can increase the chance of stroke and bleeding. Because of the risks associated with higher doses of fish oil, adhere to your health practitioner's recommendations for dosage.

References

Article reviewed by Leah Ann Crussell Last updated on: Jun 11, 2011

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