As its name suggests, cod liver oil is extracted from the fat of the liver of the codfish. Although there is no definitive documentation of this, it is believed that fishermen in Norway, Scotland, Greenland and Iceland were the first ones to discover cod liver oil. These fishermen found the fats in the liver and preserved the oils. The oils were used for many different purposes including lubricants. They were also added to animal feeds, and the health benefits of this oil were first observed. The oil was then introduced to scientists and physicians who began to experiment with it to determine its uses.
Treatment of Arthritis
In 2000, J. Gruenwald and colleagues at the Institute for Phytopharmaceuticals, in Berlin, found that cod liver oil helps reduce the inflammation of the joints caused due to the progressive diseases such as arthritis. According to this study, cod liver oil can be effectively used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The n-3 fatty acids in cod liver oils act as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Over a period of three months, the study showed a significant lowering in joint stiffness, swelling around the joint and intensity of pain.
Cardiovascular Health Boost
According to a study performed in University of Munich, in 1999, food sources rich in n-3 fatty acids are beneficial to those who have recently experienced a myocardial infarction. Whereas the precise role of these fatty acids in the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis is not known, in many animal studies, these acids have produced beneficial results for various cardiovascular problems. Two kinds of acid -- EPA and DHA -- contained in cod liver oil eases the metabolism of lipids and triglycerides, improving heart health.
Improving Overall Health
The EPA, DHA and omega-3 fatty acids can strengthen the immune system and prevent cancer. Cod liver oil also helps in preventing diabetes, ulceration in the stomach, depression, Alzheimer's disease and hyperactivity. Though there is no specific evidence to back their claims, many researchers believe that cod liver oil can also improve energy levels as well as the ability to concentrate.
Accelerating Skin Healing
A study published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, " in 2000, reported that topical application of cod liver oil ointment could accelerate healing of wounds. In this study, it was seen that when the wounds on the ears of hairless mice were topically treated with 25 percent cod liver oil ointment, the top layer of epithelial cells formed much faster and the wounds healed at an accelerated rate.
References
- "Advances in Therapy"; Effect of Cod Liver Oil on Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, J. Gruenwald et al, March-April 2002
- "Rheumatology" (Oxford, England); Cod Liver Oil (n-3 Fatty Acids) as an Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Sparing Agent in Rheumatoid Arthritis, B. Galarraga, et al, ;March 2008
- Healing Daily: Cod Liver Oil, Fish Oil and Omega 3
- "Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery"; Topical Application of Cod Liver Oil Ointment Accelerates Wound Healing: An Experimental Study in Wounds in the Ears of Hairless Mice, L.H. Terkelsen, et al., March 2000
- "Annals of Internal Medicine";The Effect of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Coronary Atherosclerosis....; C. von Shacky, et al.; 1999
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