High-density lipoprotein is often considered a good form of cholesterol. It moves through the bloodstream, picking up “bad” cholesterol and taking it to the liver, where it can be eliminated. Excess “bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, can accumulate along the arterial walls, narrowing blood vessels and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The more HDL you have in your blood, the lower your LDL level tends to be. While lifestyle changes can improve cholesterol levels, taking cod liver oil may not be as beneficial as other options, particularly when it comes to HDL.
Evidence
A study published in the November 2002 “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found EPA and DHA — two essential fatty acids in cod liver oil — could potentially benefit cholesterol. EPA increased HDL2, a subclass of high-density lipoproteins, by 16 percent, while DHA increased HDL2 by 12 percent. Overall HDL, however, didn’t experience a significant improvement, and HDL3, another subclass of high-density lipoproteins, saw a declined by 11 percent in the EPA group.
Statins
Although EPA and DHA don’t improve overall HDL, there’s some indication that fish oil may enhance the efficacy of statins when taken in combination, according to the National Institutes of Health. Statins are commonly used to lower blood cholesterol, but may also help increase HDL cholesterol. Not all statins, however, appear to react the same to fish oil. Simvastatin is currently the only prescription that may benefit from the use of fish oil. Always talk to your doctor before taking this or any other supplement to improve cholesterol.
Triglycerides
Taking cod liver oil — or any other fish oil, for that matter — does appear to lower triglycerides, another form of fat found in the bloodstream. Triglycerides are known to harden and thicken the arterial walls. Much like LDL, this can narrow blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. On cod liver oil, you can often expect a 20 to 50 percent reduction in triglyceride levels, notes the National Institutes of Health.
Recommendation
Instead of self-prescribing cod liver oil to improve HDL cholesterol, turn to other ways known to affect these numbers. Losing excess pounds is one of the more important. You can often see an increase in HLD of 1 mg/dL for every 6 pounds lost. You can also increase HDL by 5 percent with a little exercise. Try to get at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Limiting your saturated fat and trans fat intake is beneficial as well.
References
- Mayo Clinic; High Cholesterol; June 2011
- Mayo Clinic; HDL Cholesterol: How to Boost Your ‘Good’ Cholesterol; June 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cod Liver Oil; January 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; June 2009
- MedlinePlus; Fish Oil; February 2011
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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