COD LIVER OIL Overview Information
Cod liver oil can be obtained from eating fresh cod liver or by taking supplements.
Cod liver oil is used for high cholesterol, high triglycerides, kidney disease in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, depression, an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), glaucoma, and middle ear infections (otitis media).
Some people put cod liver oil on their skin to speed wound healing.
When taken in appropriate doses by mouth, cod liver oil seems to help lower high triglycerides (a type of blood fat), lower high blood pressure, and treat some symptoms of kidney disease related to diabetes. It doesn’t seem to lower high cholesterol or reduce arthritis pain. Other uses are still under investigation.
How does it work?
Cod liver oil contains certain "fatty acids" that prevent the blood from clotting easily. These fatty acids also reduce pain and swelling.
COD LIVER OIL Uses & Effectiveness 
Likely Effective for:
- Lowering blood fats called triglycerides. Taking cod liver oil by mouth can reduce triglyceride levels by 20% to 50% in people with high triglyceride levels.
Possibly Effective for:
- High blood pressure. Taking cod liver oil by mouth seems to lower blood pressure (both numbers) a small, but important, amount in people with mild high blood pressure.
- Kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Taking cod liver oil seems to reduce protein in the urine, a marker for kidney disease severity.
Possibly Ineffective for:
- Osteoarthritis.
- Cholesterol disease that runs in families (familial hypercholesterolemia).
Insufficient Evidence for:
- Depression. There is some evidence that people who take cod liver oil have fewer symptoms of depression than other people.
- Irregular heartbeat in people with heart disease. There is some early evidence that cod liver oil might help to prevent certain types of irregular heartbeat.
- Ear infections in young children. Preliminary research suggests that taking cod liver oil along with a children's multivitamin-mineral product containing selenium might prevent or decrease the number of ear infections in young children.
- Heart disease.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Wound healing.
- Glaucoma.
- Other conditions.
COD LIVER OIL Side Effects & Safety
Cod liver oil is LIKELY SAFE for most people. It can cause side effects including belching, bad breath, heartburn, and nosebleeds. Taking cod liver oil with meals can often decrease these side effects.
High doses are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. They might keep blood from clotting and can increase the chance of bleeding. Vitamin A and vitamin D levels might also become too high with high doses of cod liver oil. High doses might also cause nausea and loose stools.
The safety of cod liver oil when used on the skin is unknown.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of cod liver oil during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.High blood pressure: Cod liver oil can lower blood pressure and might cause blood pressure to go too low if used along with medications for high blood pressure. Be careful when using cod liver oil if you are taking high blood pressure drugs.
COD LIVER OIL Interactions
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with COD LIVER OIL
Cod liver oil seems to decrease blood pressure. Taking cod liver oil along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others. - Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with COD LIVER OIL
Cod liver oil might slow blood clotting. Taking cod liver oil along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
COD LIVER OIL Dosing
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For lowering triglycerides: 20 mL of cod liver oil per day.
- For high cholesterol: 30 mL of cod liver oil per day.
- For lowering blood pressure: 20 mL of cod liver oil per day.