Image Source : Encyclopedia Britannica
Cod liver oil may be able to reduce inflammation, promote brain function, improve eyesight, and boost the immune system.
Cod liver oil is a nutrient-dense oil made from the livers of several species of the cod fish.
It contains large amounts of vitamins A, D, and omega-3 fatty acids, and has been used for centuries to promote immune system health and prevent rickets. Rickets is a bone condition in children caused by lack of vitamin D. But the health benefits of cod liver oil may not end there. The powerful nutrient-dense composition of cod liver oil also is thought to reduce inflammation, promote brain function, improve eyesight, and boost the immune system.
While eating the fresh livers of the cod fish probably won’t be appetizing to your kids, many parents still think it’s important to benefit from cod liver oil’s health-boosting effects. Read on to find out the most promising benefits of cod liver oil for your children and more importantly, how to get them to take it.
What Is Cod Liver Oil?
Cod is the common name for fish from the genus Gadus. The most known species are the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and the Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). The cooked flesh of the fish is a popular dish throughout the world, though the cod fish is more well-known for its liver.
Cod liver oil is exactly what it sounds like: the oil extracted from the liver of the cod fish. The oil is known in traditional folklore as a remedy for a wide range of different health issues. Research has found it to be one of the richest sources of vitamins A and D, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The Health Benefits
1. Preventing Rickets
At one point in time, rickets was a common disorder of the bones caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin D. In rickets, the bones fail to mineralize, which leads to soft bones and skeletal deformities in children, including:
- bowed legs
- thick wrists and ankles
- projected breastbone
The best source of vitamin D is sunlight, but people who live in northern latitudes often don’t get a lot of sun during the winter months. Before the discovery of cod liver oil, many children suffered from deformed bones. Once mothers began including cod liver oil in their child’s daily routine, incidence of rickets dropped dramatically.
In the 1930s, people in the United States began fortifying their dairy milk with vitamin D. Vitamin D drops for children are also widely available. Along with the use of cod liver oil, these changes have made rickets a rare disease in the United States, but a few cases are seen today. Rickets is still a major public health concern in many developing countries.
2. Lowering Risk of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs in children, but its exact cause isn’t known. A research study conducted in Norway has shown that taking cod liver oil in the first year of life may be associated with a lower risk of type 1 diabetes. The effect may be attributed to cod liver oil’s high vitamin D content.
A meta-analysisTrusted Source of 11 different studies found that children who took vitamin D supplements during their first year of life, including cod liver oil or a supplement with vitamin D, had a significantly lower risk of type 1 diabetes.
Other studies point to the mother’s vitamin D deficiency as a culprit in type 1 diabetes. In one article, researchers found that the odds of type 1 diabetes were more than two times higher in children whose mothers had the lowest levels of vitamin D, compared to children of mothers with high levels of vitamin D.
Although limited research has been conducted, all of the above studies show possible associations. There’s not yet enough evidence to show that vitamin D deficiency is definitely linked to type 1 diabetes or that cod liver oil can reduce the risk. More research is needed.
3. Preventing Infections
Cod liver oil could mean fewer bouts of the cold and flu for your child, and fewer trips to the doctor. It is theorized that an immune system boost comes from the oil’s high content of vitamin D, though research has not yet shown this. In research published in the Journal of the American College of NutritionTrusted Source, cod liver oil supplements decreased trips to the doctor for upper respiratory illnesses by 36 to 58 percent.
4. Protecting Eye Sight
Cod liver oil is rich in vitamins A and D. Both of these vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy eyesight over the long term. Vitamin A is especially important for preserving normal vision. It’s also an antioxidant and could prevent the damage that leads to glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye disease that can damage the optic nerve. It can lead to vision loss or even blindness. ScientistsTrusted Source are exploring the relationship between cod liver oil supplementation and glaucoma.
It is thought that the high omega-3 fatty acid content of cod liver oil could help improve blood flow to the eyes, keeping your kids’ eyesight strong and healthy for a long time.
5. Reducing Depression
Cod liver oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in people suffering from major depression. A large study in over 20,000 people in Norway revealed that adults who regularly took cod liver oil were roughly 30 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who did not. Research also suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may improve overall mood and brain function.