| Cod Liver Oil: Setting the Record Straight |
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| Friday, 01 May 2009 18:38 |
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Debate on the merits of cod liver oil has been ricocheting around the internet of late, sparked by a recent posting from Dr. Joseph Mercola, in which he withdrew his recommendation to take cod liver oil. Mercola's remarks dovetail with establishment bias against this old-fashioned superfood. Cod liver oil has come under attack as a "dangerous" source of vitamin A. And while vitamin A has fallen to the bottom of the Vitamin Hit Parade, vitamin D has risen to the top, with many voices calling for extensive supplementation and an increase in the RDA for the sunshine vitamin. The establishment view is as follows: the animal form of vitamin A is toxic and also interferes with vitamin D metabolism, so we should avoid foods rich in vitamin A, like liver, organ meats and cod liver oil; we can get all the vitamin A we need from the conversion of carotenes in plants; it is impossible to obtain adequate vitamin D from food, so we need to take vitamin D supplements. In recent articles, we have put these mistaken notions to rest by showing the extensive scientific literature on the benefits of cod liver oil and vitamin A, as well as on the synergistic-rather than antagonistic-relationship of vitamins A and D. To bolster our premise that vitamin A is not toxic and that vitamin D can be obtained from food sources, we have published many articles on traditional diets, showing the high levels of vitamins A and D in traditional foods. For example, the traditional Scottish diet, described in a recent article, was rich in fish liver oils, organ meats, shellfish and fats, thus corroborating the discoveries of Dr. Weston A. Price, who found that emphasis on foods rich in vitamins A and D was universal among primitive populations. However, care must be taken in the choice of cod liver oil. Most brands contain synthetic vitamins A and D and many have the wrong ratio of A to D. Please visit the following links for information on cod liver oil, the number one superfood:
Recent Studies on Cod Liver OilThe following are references to recent articles published since 2000 in the scientific literature showing the myriad benefits of cod liver oil. Because modern diets are deficient in vitamins A and D, we recommend a daily dose of good quality cod liver oil for young and old. Vitamin D Status: In Norway, three mølje meals (consisting of cod liver and fresh cod-liver oil) provided an amount of vitamin D equal to 54 times the recommended daily dose. Subjects with food consumption habits that included frequent mølje meals during the winter sustained satisfactory vitamin D levels in their blood, in spite of the long "vitamin D winter" (Public Health Nutr. 2004 Sep;7(6):783-9). Vitamin D Status and Bone Loss: Inclusion of cod liver oil in the diet appears to attenuate the seasonal variation of vitamin D status in early postmenopausal women at northerly latitudes where quality of sunlight for production of vitamin D is diminished. Cod liver oil can thus protect against greater bone turnover, bone loss and obesity (Bone. 2008 May;42(5):996-1003). Hip Fracture: Multivitamin or cod liver oil supplementation was associated with a significantly lower risk of any fracture. "We found no evidence to support any skeletal harm associated with increased serum indices of retinol exposure or modest retinol supplementation in this population" (J Bone Miner Res. 2005 Jun;20(6):913-20). Multiple Sclerosis: In Arctic climates, supplemental cod-liver oil during childhood may be protective against multiple sclerosis later in life (J Neurol. 2007 Apr;254(4):471-7). Breast Cancer: Reduced breast cancer risks were associated with increasing sun exposure and cod liver oil use from ages ten to nineteen. "We found strong evidence to support the hypothesis that vitamin D could help prevent breast cancer. However, our results suggest that exposure earlier in life, particularly during breast development, maybe most relevant" (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Mar;16(3):422-9). Depression: Regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population (J Affect Disord. 2007 Aug;101(1-3):245-9). Wound Healing: The combination of zinc oxide and cod liver oil was found to be superior to the formulations containing only one active ingredient. This combination was also found to be most efficient in accelerating wound healing when it is retarded by repeated dexamethasone treatment (Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2006 Sep;113(9):331-4). Arthritis and Joint Stiffness
Diabetes and Circulation
Birth Weight, Breast Milk, and Children's Health
Comments (39)
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written by john Lucich, May 17 2011
i had a lactic acidosis stroke in feb of 2010. after extensive info on lipitor and such...i switched to a high fat diet and daily supplements of arnica..curcumin,cod liver oil, strophactiv and baby aspirin. my western doctor is concerned about cholesterol....but mymd/holistic doctor...dr thomas cowan is more concerned with my tryglcerides which are in great shapelow 50's...ttl ckolesterol is 130......with the diet....excercise and continuous monitoting of ones own physical engine ilost 35 lbs...went from a 38 waist to a 34 and sleep great and feel great......and dr cowan also was the one who diagnosed mylactic acidosis episode.........weston price rocks!!!!
Low Vitamin D Levels?
written by Elle, Feb 26 2011
Hi,
I just started to take Fermented CLO by Green Pastures but I'm a bit concerned with some of the comments here. Some people are becoming vitamin D sufficient after taking CLO supplements. The reason I'm even taking CLO is to reduce depression, which it has alleviated to some extent but I'm wondering if there's a real link with Green Pastures FCLO or any company that makes this product. Do you think its due to vitamin A & D ratio's being wrong?
Miraculous Healing
written by mira, Jan 09 2011
Of all things i bought at 99 cent store one day;they had bottles of Natrol mint emulsified cod liver oil. I thought oh why not? I had just read an article on vitamin D and the winter blues and at 99cents; gave it a try and bought two bottles. (I should have bought 10 bottles at that price, since they ran out a week later) I want to shout from the roof tops...I am post menopausal and had such knee pain as well as sciatica and teeth issues. After a about 4 days the knee pain was gone completely, allowing me to Squat and do lundges for the first time in a few years.! My moods seem to be alleviated and I am happier than I have been in a long time.I know it is from the CLO. I will never stop taking this miraculous oil. It really did something for me. I have always followed the healthy way of living, taken flax seed oil it did nothing for me and some things are just inevitable such as knee and back pain. I feel like my body has had a lube job. I am a true believer. As for the creme and milk drinkers that I have read on this site...have you ever seen a cow suckle off of another cow for milk? Milk is disgusting... milk ech. I say go for the CLO if you are of a certain age...it is a fabulous addition to a healthy diet.
Jean D & Rebecca
written by Lawrence, Sep 06 2010
In regards to your D3 test levels. There are two Vitamin D blood tests; make sure you got the 25(OH)D test. This test is also called the "25-hydroxyvitamin D" test. You don't want the other test.
owner
written by Nancy Chase, Aug 12 2010
I am a new member of WAPF and am activly involved and networking with our local group. I have been drinking raw milk and cream now, but have bubbly gastro reactions. I have a cousin that makes raw goat cheese which I enjoyed alot of yesterday and then had bllod in my stool directly after and again today, concerned. I am taking enzymes as well as Kambucha and colloidal silver to manage bacteria and digestion. I took Cod Liver oil yesterday again for first time in months as well, could that be it? I am very healthy and can manage these issues I beleive, but my husband has major GI issues with food intolerance, diverticulosis and bloating, likely candida, and he is so sensitive to any 'treatments' that I introduce. My GI reactions would be very compounded for him so I am treading carefully as the 'experiment'- need advise if anyone has any similar case history, so I can navigate.
Maybe
written by Maniek, Aug 04 2010
Maybe your HCl is low and you have problems with digestion of meat and fat. Too much supply of carbohydrates in a diet low in meat (proteins) fats leads di problems with digestion, when switch of carbohydrates into fat.
Servus Mariusz
Response to Debbie
written by Esther, Jun 12 2010
I had similar problems taking coconut oil and CLO at first. I think my body wasn't used to the amount of fat. Now I take Swedish Bitters with my oils and no problem! I don't know how it will affect you with gallbladder issues, though.
to Debbie
written by Melissa, Jun 10 2010
I know when I started taking Cod liver oil I had trouble too. I think your system may be doing a little 'cleaning' or may just need to adjust. I take it w/out any problems now. Hope you get to feeling better and keep taking your CLO.
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written by Les, Apr 19 2010
Why should Fermented Cod Liver Oil be taken on an empty stomach and can you drink juice with it?
Possible intolerance to cod liver oil
written by Debbie, Apr 08 2010
I've been taking cod liver oil on and off for about 6 months ago and just switched over to Blue Ice High-Vitamin Fermented Cod Liver Oil (recommended on the WAPF website). I've been taking 2 ml in the morning, followed by a 1/2 tbsp of coconut oil in hot water and this is Day 4 of doing so. Unfortunately, I've been experiencing some major GI stress. I have had gallbladder issues in the past and an ultrasound showed gallstones, so I'm thinking that perhaps the fat in the cod liver oil and/or coconut oil is too much for my system to handle? I've been taking coconut oil daily for awhile now with no problems. But literally since taking the cod liver oil 4 days ago, I'm running to the washroom and my stomach feels a bit queasy. Does anyone have any thoughts or a similar experience to share?
response to 'diminishing cod in norway' claims
written by robb, Apr 05 2010
in response to fred, just wanted to note that norway (recognized by the UN for the best regulatory fishing practices in the world) has upped the quotas they allow for fishing the arctic cod variety (used by nordic naturals) from 09 to '10 due to their assessment of the quantity of arctic cod in their waters this year vs last year. certainly this is just a claim about specifically arctic cod and specifically in norwegian waters....im not sure what else can be said about the rest of the world....but norwegian waters and are healthy and abundant with cod. so i encourage you to rest easy on this.
the beauty of this is that when we do live in harmony with the land...be respectful of giving and taking, working within natural patterns (in this instance only harvesting after spawning) we can be supported by mother nature...and can support mother nature, too. its really a gorgeous relationship that shoulld be applied more to our consciousness.
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written by Fred, Apr 05 2010
One major concern I have that is rarely discussed is the damage being done to the cod stocks in our oceans. This species is in danger of disappearing.
response to Sandra
written by Dr. Will Mitchell, Mar 31 2010
People with insulin resistance (81% of 55 year-olds) cannot use plant based oils as an omega 3 source. Insulin interferes with the enzyme that converts the plant oils into the fatty acids found in fish oils. They need fish oils directly.
This is what it's all about.
written by Don, Mar 28 2010
I am so grateful for this website and countless others like it. We are all believers in healing ourselves by better educating ourselves. I followed government and traditional "guidelines" for years, and the only thing I got was sicker. I thank the Price foundation AND Mercola for the wealth of information they put out regularly. I've been able to make myself healthier. I also appreciate all the input and comments from everyday folks on these sites, I have gleaned tons of info from them as well.
Good to see
written by Bernie Peach, Mar 26 2010
Am glad there is some balance to the views Dr. Joseph Mercola, expresses from his often odd comments on his site http://www.mercola.com/...seems to me the only thing he offers is a list of highly expensive supplements while at the same time decrying drug companies for being money makers..How much of this stuff is a scam is the question
Help
written by Scotty Logan, Mar 23 2010
Tricia R.
Would love to hear more about your successes as i have similar problems ....
response to Jean
written by rebecca, Mar 22 2010
I had my vit. D level drawn in October, 2009. It was 17.3. I began taking the high-vitamin fermented CLO from green pastures, along with extra D3. This month, (March, 2010), I had my D level checked and it had dropped to 4.9. It is the end of the winter season, so have not been out in the sun. Not sure whether to continue with the CLO.
Prof Brain Peskin's theory on PEO's
written by Patrick Heckelmann, Mar 21 2010
What do you of Prof Brian Peskin's theory that CLO with EPA/DHA is not only useless but as well harmful and that PEO's LA/LL are the only healthy forms one should use.
Moderator Response: see http://www.westonaprice.org/Br...Acids.html
CLO & sunshine, but vitamin D3 level was 15. What is that about?
written by Jean D., Mar 18 2010
I've been on Green Pasture's fermented CLO with or without the high vitamin butter. So end of last summer had my vitamin D3 level checked. OMG it was 15, even lower than both my ill parents. Last few years, WAP-wise, I've been in the sun, building up without burns, so the blood level was taken at the end of peak season. So why am I so deficient in D3? Maybe too much Vitamin A in relation to my D intake? Would love to know what other WAPF members are testing at. Now I'm on the D3 supplement and got my level up to 20, but need it to be much higher, around 80. Thanks for help, Jean
Vitamin A vs Vitamin D
written by Susan Marynowski, Feb 27 2010
Dr. Cannell (vitamindcouncil.org) just released a newsletter about studies of Vitamin D and cancer showing (through his reasoning) that Vitamin A counteracts the beneficial effects of Vitamin D in cancer prevention and mortality. He claims that Americans suffer from low-level Vitamin A toxicity. I hope you all can post some kind of response to this! Thanks for the great work.
WAPF response: Thank you for contacting us about Dr. Cannell's latest newsletter on the U Shaped Curve. We will be responding specifically to this newsletter shortly. In the meantime, please read our earlier comments on the synergistic relationship between vitamins A and D at http://www.westonaprice.org/Th...ebate.html Sincerely, Sally Fallon Morell, President
what did i hear about new regulations ...?
written by sean depue, Feb 16 2010
I was shocked when i heard (from my chiropractor) that big pharma has very recently been able to outlaw traditional cod liver oil so that it can only be sold in an adulterated form that ensures it will no longer be as effective? Anyone heard of this?
Mrs
written by Angie, Jan 29 2010
I am currently taking a high quality krill oil. Do I need to be taking CLO as well, or is the krill oil sufficient?
Also, I just found out I am pregnant (I have been following the WAPF diet for a couple of years) but I also just found out I am allergic to dairy. I have been drinking only raw milk (and raw milk kefir) for the past year. Any suggestions on how to get my calcium while pregnant? I am drinking home made bone broths.
I don't trust any "MD's" anymore,
written by Mersie, Jan 28 2010
Too bad Dr. Mercola is really wrong about this,a lot of people listen to him. Thanks to your website and your book, Nourishing Traditions, our family is now 'cured' of our tooth decay, my rheumatoid arthritis, my high blood pressure, heart palpatations and my husbands chronic indigestion. Also, drinking raw milk is keeping me from getting morning sickness pretty much! I did notice that when I did make a mistake and eat white bread that I would get morning sickness again. I don't believe any modern medicine propaganda anymore..they are totally clueless.
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written by Jess, Jan 27 2010
I stopped listening to Mercola after I called his company to find out what his capsules for supplements were made out of - beef gelatin. What do you think the chance that it is grass fed beef gelatin? Yea, probably not much.
Mercola's bias
written by Tamar, Jan 11 2010
I think one of the reasons Mercola may have dropped his "endorsement" of cod liver oil is that he's now selling his own version of krill oil.
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written by Peter L., Jan 09 2010
Chris,
In the article you cite concerning CLO's inhibiting DM-induced nephropathy, the term DM doesn't refer to diabetes mellitus but rather to Daunomycin, an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent. Futhermore, according to the abstract, CLO was compared only to soybean oil, leaving open the question of whether any fish or other omega-3 oil would have worked as well or even better.
Response to Tom
written by Christopher Masterjohn, Jan 07 2010
Tom,
Cod liver oil is unlikely to produce vitamin A toxicity if used in reasonable amounts. Even in large amounts, a high-vitamin cod liver oil rich in both vitamins A and D is unlikely to lead to toxicity of either vitamin because they each protect against the toxicity of the other. Chris Masterjohn
Response to Gayle
written by Christopher Masterjohn, Jan 07 2010
Gayle,
The article can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12030316? It appears to concern nephropathy, not neuropathy. Chris Masterjohn
Response to Mr. Nobody
written by Chris Masterjohn, Jan 07 2010
Mr. Nobody,
Polyunsaturated fatty acids in general, including the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and cod liver oils, inhibit the conversion of energy into fatty acids and triglyerides. This is the basis for the use of fish oils to lower triglyeride levels. Different experiments using isolated cells have pointed to different potential mechanisms or pinpointed different fatty acids that seem to be most effective, but in general it can be said that both EPA and DHA inhibit the production of enzymes involved in converting excess sugar to fat. The upside is you have less hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver. Presumably, there is a downside in at least some people, that if that sugar is not converted into fat and if there is too much to convert to glycogen, it winds up floating around in the blood as high blood sugar. Chris Masterjohn
Bear Liver
written by Clarence Gaston, ND, LCCN, Jan 04 2010
If the scare is due toxicity I would say don't eat liver from wild bears.
Back in my childhood when children were being crippled by rickits the remedy recommended by the old fashion doctors was COD LIVER OIL, which seemed to put a stop to the bone deforming disease.
Hypocrisy?
written by MercHypo, Jan 03 2009
First and foremost all vitamins unless from food are synthesized via chemicals to create supplements.
So since no one can agree on RDA's and no one understands that most supplements are in and of themselves toxic since all unnecessary constituents are removed via chemical processing to create a "vitamin", etc. then why should I listen to any so-called "doctor" as to what is or what is not truth? What is left are recommendations from "doctors" regarding toxic substances which in and of themselves are misunderstood as to the effects on the individual. So now "doctors" have gone from prescribing pure chemical compounds, to now prescribing on the virtues of supplementation, to warning of the dangers of whole foods. I don't entirely disagree about manufactured substances such as cod liver oil, in that really you should eat the whole fish not just the oil from the livers of cod. But it smacks me of pure hypocrisy to have "doctors" becoming experts on health food supplementation. In fact most scientists have just darn near ruined the food supply, so Mr Mercola isn't doing anyone any favors. Maybe he should just go back to doctoring and prescribing pills. He states he cannot drink raw milk and is allergic to dairy but it's okay for some. Now CLO is bad. So what form should I take my A/D in then? I'll just bet you sell it on your website, don't you? I was as were many following health principles long. long ago before Mercola and his ilk became experts on everything regarding health. Personally all these johnny come lately's are doing more harm than good and should just shutup.
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written by Tricia R, Jan 03 2009
I have been taking CLO & Unrefined Salmon oil from Vital choice for 9 months now I also add Vitamin D3 drops 10,000 iu and wow what a difference. I used to be practically bed ridden after just an hour of walking. I would have so much pain in my knees, hips and feet. I was tested for arthritis but there was nothing fish oil & D3 cured what my Dr could not. Another great benefit is I have less pain in my teeth they were extremely sensitive and I was developing a new cavity about every 3-4 mos but there is a huge improvement in sensitivity and no new cavities at my dentist appointment last month.
Mister
written by Denis Dillon, Dec 30 2009
I have been taking Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil with my lunchtime sandwiches made using Kerrygold butter & at age 48 I feel brilliant. Thankyou WAPF.
CLO and hair loss
written by Tom, Dec 23 2009
I have read that too much CLO can cause hair loss due to high levels of vitamin A. Any truth to this?
Cod Liver Oil: Setting the Record Straight
written by Ruth, Dec 17 2009
Diabetic Neuropathy: Use of cod liver oil in mice played an important role in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy (Lipids. 2002 Apr;37(4):359-66).
?Is this article referring to Diabetic Neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy or both? Sincerely, Gayle Hardine
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written by Mr. Nobody, Dec 16 2009
I am a diabetic who tried cod liver oil, and it really seemed like it was raising my blood sugar. There also seems to be some online consensus that CLO raises blood sugar.
... written by Isis, Oct 23 2009
Thanks for sharing such an informative article.I really appreciate your work.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 18:49 |
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