If you are considering giving your toddler cod liver oil, there are a few things to consider. The use of cod liver oil in toddlers has plenty of potential benefits, including protection against common vitamin deficiencies and diseases. However, its use is controversial due to its high levels of vitamin A, which could be toxic for a small child. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of cod liver oil before providing it to your toddler.
Nutrition
Cod liver oil contains plenty of nutrients necessary for health during toddlerhood. It is high in vitamin A, which helps grow bones and cells, boost immunity, enable night vision and allow for proper reproductive system development. Vitamin D, another component of cod liver oil, helps prevent rickets, allows for proper bone development and keeps your child's immune system healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain development, especially during the toddler years when neuron growth is proceeding rapidly. Many toddlers don't get enough vitamin D, which is found in few foods and produced by the skin upon sun exposure, so cod liver oil can be a good way to increase a child's intake.
Benefits
In addition to being a great source of vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids, cod liver oil might also confer protection against future disease for toddlers who take it regularly. Some of these benefits may not become apparent until much later in life. A 2003 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that children who took cod liver oil in the first year of life had a lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Another study in the February 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology" linked high intake of cod liver oil in childhood to better bone mineral density in women around the age of menopause.
Concerns
One problem with giving cod liver oil to toddlers is that the high levels of vitamin A might be dangerous for a young child. According to the UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements, too much vitamin A can weaken bones. Because vitamin A builds up in the body, toxicity can occur from small exposures over time, as well as from large doses at once. The recommended upper level of vitamin A is 2,000 IU for children between 1 and 3 years old. One teaspoon of cod liver oil contains 4,500 IU of vitamin A.
Considerations
If you decide to give your toddler cod liver oil, you might encounter difficulty convincing your child to eat it. Some companies make lemon- or orange-flavored cod liver oil that is more palatable than the plain oil. Mixing small amounts of cod liver oil into a fruit smoothie, oatmeal or pasta sauce can often disguise it enough to get your child to eat it. Mixing the citrus-flavored cod liver oil with ice cream is another option.
References
- "The Medscape Journal of Medicine"; Mother Was Right About Cod Liver Oil; George T. Griffing; January 2008
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Use of Cod Liver Oil During the First Year of Life Is Associate With Lower Risk of Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes; L.C. Stene, et al.; December 2003
- "American Journal of Epidemiology"; Childhood Cod Liver Oil Consumption and Bone Mineral Density in a Population-Based Cohort of Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: The Nord-Trodelag Health Study; S. Forsmo, et al.; February 2008
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin A
- UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements: Cod Liver Oil
- BabyCenter: Parents' Voices: How can I get my child to take fish oil supplements?; February 2010
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