Cod liver oil is a method to get your daily dosage of omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with reducing inflammation, which can protect your heart and overall health. Always speak with your physician before beginning to take cod liver oil, as dosage needs can vary based on your unique health conditions. For example, if you have high triglyceride levels, you might take more cod liver oil than if you were taking the supplement to benefit your general health.
EPA and DHA
Two of the most important fatty acids in cod liver oil are eicosapentaenoic acid -- EPA -- and docosahexaenoic acid -- DHA. The amounts of each are often included on a cod liver oil supplement label. When recommended specific dosages for health conditions, your physician might recommend that you use a supplement that contains a certain amount of each omega-3 fatty acid.
Dosage Recommendations: Heart Health
While dosage recommendations might vary based on your physician's recommendations, some general ranges are likely to be prescribed if you have heart-related conditions. For example, if you have high triglycerides, you might need to take between 1,000 and 4,000 mg of fish oil, according to MedlinePlus. However, you only should exceed the 3,000-mg limit with medical supervision. If you have coronary heart disease, take a cod liver oil supplement that has between 300 and 600 mg of EPA and 600 to 3,700 mg of DHA. If you have high blood pressure, take a cod liver oil supplement that has between 2,000 mg of EPA and 1,400 mg of DHA.
Additional Conditions
While the exact benefits of taking cod liver oil have not been proven for the following conditions, these are some general dosage recommendations from MedlinePlus for various conditions. For rheumatoid arthritis, take a cod liver oil supplement that contains 3,800 mg of EPA and 2,000 mg of DHA. If you are trying to lose weight, take about 660 mg of EPA and 600 mg of DHA. For asthma in children, give a cod liver oil supplement that has 17 to 26.8 mg of EPA and 7.3 to 11.5 mg of DHA.
Toxic Levels
Cod liver oil contains vitamins A and D, which can be toxic to the body if you consume excess amounts. Taking 0.67 oz. of cod liver oil gives you a typical dosage of 15,000 IU of vitamin A and 1,500 IU of vitamin D. This can be problematic because females and males ages 19 and older should not consume more than 10,000 IUs of vitamin A per day. The upper limit for vitamin D should be 4,000 IUs per day for those older than age 9. Also, excess amounts of cod liver oil are associated with increased risk of bleeding because cod liver oil is a natural blood thinner. Do not take more than 3,000 mg of fish oil per day to minimize the risk of experiencing easy bleeding.
References
- eMedTV; "Cod Liver Oil Dosage"; Kristi Monson, PharmD and Dr. Arthur Schoendstadt; November 2008
- MedlinePlus; "Fish Oil"; February 2011
- "Mail Online"; "Do We Still Need a Daily Dose of Cod Liver Oil?"; Angela Epstein; March 2006
- NetDoctor; "Is It Safe to Increase My Dose of Cod Liver Oil?"; January 2011
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