Cod liver oil is an oil extracted from cod livers. Prior to the fortification of milk with vitamins A and D, it was commonly given to children as a nutritional supplement.Cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin A and Vitamin D, it is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA). High quality cod liver oil is "a pale-yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar, slightly fishy, but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste." Depending on the quality of the oil the flavor and aroma range from a mild sardine like flavor, to an intense and obnoxious odor of rotten fish and rancid oil.

Cod liver oil is made by cooking cod livers with steam and then pressing/decanting the cooked livers to extract the oil. Fish oils are extracted from the cooked whole body tissues of fatty fish during the manufacture of fish meal . Cod liver oil and fish oil are similar but have a somewhat different compostion: fish oil has a much lower contenct of vitamins A and D compared to liver oils.

This may pose a problem in that one may need to exceed the recommended daily intake of vitamins A and D in order to obtain therapeutic amounts of EPA and DHA from Cod liver oil. A common way to benefit from both oils is to take cod liver oil during the winter, and fish oil during the summer in order to avoid an overdose of vitamin D.

External links

• Information on fish oils from WholeHealthMD.com
• Fish Oil Blog News and commentary on the latest developments and benefits of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids.

• Shark Liver Oil