Your digestive tract extracts and absorbs the nutrients from your food, and also disposes of waste products. This organ system contains a number of types of tissue: epithelial tissues that line your digestive tract; secretory cells that release digestive enzymes and acids; muscles that promote movement of food through the tract; and a network of nerves that support digestion. Cod liver oil contains nutrients that interact with your digestive tract, and the oil can contribute to your digestive health.
Effect of Vitamin A
Vitamin A, one of the nutrients abundant in cod liver oil, can benefit your digestive tract. Vitamin A signaling plays an important role in maintaining your mucosal membranes, including the tissues that line your digestive tract. As a result, vitamin A deficiencies might affect the functioning of your digestive system, disrupting the mucosal surfaces that line your digestive tract, and potentially preventing proper nutrient absorption. Consuming even a small amount of cod liver oil, less than a teaspoon, provides sufficient vitamin A to prevent a deficiency.
Vitamin D and Digestion
Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D, which affects your digestive tract. Several tissues within your digestive tract contain a protein called the vitamin D receptor, which allows these tissues to respond to vitamin D in your blood. A 2008 study published in the "European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics" indicates that vitamin D plays an important role in the hormonal regulation of your digestive system, and in the growth and development of tissues that make up your digestive tract. It also aids in the absorption of nutrients from food.
Effect on Colon Cancer
Consuming cod liver oil might help maintain the health of your digestive tract by helping prevent disease. A study published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" in 2008 found that men who consume fish and omega-3 fatty acids -- fats found in cod liver oil -- have a lower incidence of colon cancer. Because taking cod liver oil increases your omega-3 fatty acid intake, the oil might play a role in colon cancer prevention. However, the effects of cod liver oil supplements on colon cancer development are not yet fully understood.
Possible Adverse Effects
While cod liver oil contains nutrients that benefit your digestive tract, consuming large amounts of the oil can negatively affect your digestive system in some cases. Large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids can thin your blood, increasing your risk of bleeding. If you suffer from lesions in your digestive tract, such as damage to your stomach or intestinal lining, taking large amounts of cod liver oil might cause bleeding. As with all nutritional supplements, check with your doctor before taking cod liver oil.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin A; Dr. Jane Higdon; December 2003
- "European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics"; Vitamin D and the Digestive System; W.E Stumpf; 2008
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; A 22-Year Prospective Study of Fish, N-3 Fatty Acid Intake, and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Men; M.N. Hall, et al.; 2008
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