The anti-inflammatory properties of cod liver oil have long been used to treat inflammation associated with arthritis, and cod liver oil may also be a powerful ally in the fight against diabetes. Research suggests that cod liver oil helps reduce the inflammation associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Cod liver oil also contains significant amounts of vitamin D, which may also help reduce inflammation and ward off diabetes in those at risk of developing the disease.
Inflammation
Low-grade inflammation has been directly linked to diabetes onset in numerous studies. According to a 2003 study conducted by researchers from the universities of North Carolina and Minnesota and published in "Diabetes," the journal of the American Diabetes Association, markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein, predicted the development of Type 2 diabetes in study participants.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Cod liver oil contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA. These omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise in reducing inflammation, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, can also help those at risk of developing diabetes lower the level of fats in their blood, as well as their levels of apoproteins, which are markers of diabetes.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked not only to increased inflammation, but also to Type 1 diabetes onset. According to a 2011 study conducted by University of California researchers and published in the "American Journal of Clinical Pathology," the study subjects with Type 1 diabetes were markedly deficient in vitamin D compared to the control subjects, and the diabetic group also demonstrated higher levels of inflammation, including C-reactive protein.
Pregnancy
The anti-inflammatory properties of cod liver oil are even linked to preventing Type 1 diabetes in babies. According to a 2000 study conducted by Norwegian researchers and published in the journal "Diabetologia," babies born to mothers who supplemented cod liver oil during pregnancy demonstrated a lower risk of Type 1 diabetes. This correlation remained consistent after the researchers adjusted for age, the education level of the women and whether or not the babies were breast-fed.
References
- Diabetes: Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and the Development of Type 2 Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study; Bruce B. Duncan, et al.; July 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids;Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2009
- American Journal of Clinical Pathology: Low Vitamin D Levels Correlate with the Proinflammatory State in Type 1 Diabetic Subjects with and without Microvascular Complications; S. Devaraj, et al.; March 2011
- Diabetologia: Use of Cod Liver Oil during Pregnancy Associated with Lower Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Offspring; L.C. Stene, et al.; September 2000
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