Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood

Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood-
from -
By Krispin Sullivan, CN-

Doctor Price was right, as usual. Cod liver oil is very good for you,
more
than you ever knew. Research studies ranging from 1918-2001 give cod
liver
oil an A+ rating. This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of
elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight
vitamin
D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts
in the
modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the
important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K.

There is hardly a disease in the books that does not respond well to
treatment that includes cod liver oil, and not just infectious
diseases but
also chronic modern diseases like heart disease and cancer. Cod liver
oil
provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps
prevent osteoporosis in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are
also
very important for the development of the brain and nervous system.
"If you
want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," said David
Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them
cod
liver oil."

Cod liver oil contains more vitamin A and more vitamin D per unit
weight
than any other common food. One hundred grams of regular cod liver oil
provides 100,000 IU of vitamin A, almost three times more than beef
liver,
the next richest source; and 10,000 IU vitamin D, almost four times
more
than lard, the next richest source. Of course, cod liver oil is only
consumed in small amounts, but even a tablespoon (about 15 grams)
provides
well over the recommended daily allowance for both nutrients.

In addition, cod liveroil contains 7 percent each of the elongated
omega-3
fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA is the precursor of important
prostaglandins,
localized tissue hormones that help the body deal with inflammation;
and DHA
is extremely important for the development and function of the brain
and
nervous system. So it's no surprise that in numerous studies cod liver
oil
has proven to be a powerhouse in fighting disease.
GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU

Cod liver oil greatly improves heart function to prevent heart disease
and
to treat it even in advanced stages, after a heart attack and after
heart
surgery. Cod liver oil alters the linings of the arteries in such a
way as
to improve healing after damage. This is attributed to the omega-3
fatty
acids but vitamin A, D and K all have important roles to play in
facilitating mineral absorption, improving muscle function and
supporting
elasticity of the blood vessels. The inflammation- reducing
prostaglandins
made from EPA help mediate the inflammatory response in the arteries.
In
other studies the heart-protective effect was associated with changes
in the
muscle response to serotonin, increasing the heart's ability to
"relax."1-15
In a study with rats, treatment with cod liver oil actually caused
artery-blocking atheromas to become smaller and blood vessel diameter
to
enlarge.55 Weston Price noted that heart attack deaths increased
during
periods when the vitamin A content of the diet was low. Cod liver oil
can
provide vitamin A on a continuous basis throughout the year.

Many of the conditions addressed by cod liver oil are considered
related
under the title Syndrome X. These include obesity, hypertension,
insulin
resistance, adult onset diabetes and stroke. Evidence is accumulating
that
these diseases of civilization are the result of high levels of
omega-6
fatty acids and low levels of omega-3 fatty acids along with
deficiencies of
fat-soluble vitamins. We may be paying a very high price for our
rejection
of parental wisdom to take our cod liver oil.

http://www.healthychild.com/ cod-liver- oil.htm

Tim Campbell wrote:
Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood-
from -
By Krispin Sullivan, CN-

And that is a problem. High intake of retinol (vitamin A) is associated with
reduced bone mineral density, increased fracture risk and osteoporosis. The
fact that cod liver oil is also a good source of vitamin D does not mitigate
the harmful effects of vitamin A. It has been confirmed in animal studies
that vitamin A reduces bone mineral density even when vitamin D intake is
sufficient. Serum retinol levels are also strongly associated with higher
fracture risk.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/348/4/287


Here is a full study of a population where the use of cod liver oil is quite
common.

http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/129/10/770


Couple of excerpts:


"We found a doubled risk for hip fracture (odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1 to
4.0]) with dietary intake of retinol greater than 1.5 mg/d compared with
intake less than 0.5 mg/d."

"In Norway, which has some of the highest incidence rates of hip fracture
ever reported, mean intake in the adult population is even higher: 1.5 to
2.0 mg of retinol equivalents per day. Why is the consumption of retinol
excessive in northern Europe? A possible explanation is a high consumption
of cod liver oil"

http://www.annals.org/content/vol129...arge/3TT6.jpeg


According to the study by Melhus et al I mentioned above the mean intake of
vitamin A in the Norwegean adult population was 1.5 to 2.0 mg of retinol
equivalents per day in 1997. (I guess this includes betacarotene as well.)

Norway where the cod liver oil is used frequently has the highest rate of
hip fractures in the world. "Recent dietary surveys have shown that
cod-liver oil supplements were used by around 35% of the population in
Norway and more than half of the eldest age group of the population surveyed
(Johansson et al, 1997; Johansson & Solvoll, 1999)."

http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v.../1601759a.html


If we try to figure out the optimal intake of retinol from the point of bone
health I think that the optimal retinol intake might be somewhere around 0.5
to 1.0 mg (although the confidence intervals are quite wide). One easily
exceeds that by cod liver oil use.

Finally, this meta-analysis finds a slight _increase in mortality_ with
vitamin A supplementation, not very encouraging:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/8/842


For these reasons I think that the safest policy is to supplement with fish
oil capsules and vitamin D3. Not cod liver oil.

--
Juhana

http://ruohikolla.blogspot.com/