Cod Liver Oil Side Effects

While many people know this fish oil as a healthy oil, there are some cod liver oil side effects you should be aware of.

Cod liver oil contains the omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); as well as vitamin A and vitamin D.

These nutrients alone may not seem too dangerous; omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation and lower your risk for heart disease, whereas vitamins A and D help regulate a number of bodily functions.

Even more importantly is cod liver oil can provide an alternate source of Vitamin D, particularly during the winter months when you're not exposed to as much sunshine as the summer time.

How to Avoid Side Effects from Cod Liver Oil

While chances are slim you'll experience any side effects, there are some factors you should know about taking cod liver oil:

Is Cod Liver Oil Safe?

1. You should consult with your doctor if you're taking anticoagulant drugs such as Coumadin or Heparin.

   Studies show fish oils may reduce your risk for blood clots and may affect your bleeding time. This may be an important factor to consider if you've been diagnosed with any type of bleeding disorder.

2. Monitor your Vitamin A and D intake when taking cod liver oil.

   Vitamins A and D are fat-soluble; any extra your body can't use is absorbed by your fat cells.

   If you're getting plenty of sunshine (and also taking a multivitamin with Vitamin D) you should have your Vitamin D levels checked by your doctor before taking cod liver oil to ensure you don't get too much vitamin D.

   This is particularly important if you have a disease such as sarcoidosis, which may make you sensitive to excess Vitamin D.

3. Remember to use only high quality, pharmaceutical-grade, cod liver oils. While not a side effect, poor quality cod liver oils may already be rancid and may cause fishy burps, upset stomach and even diarrhea. I think it's better to use a cod liver oil manufactured by a reputable company that specializes in making fish oils. You shouldn't experience any of these symptoms if you're taking a quality fish oil.

More Possible Side Effects from Cod Liver Oil

While the above side effects are important, there are other minor side effects from cod liver oil that may occur in some individuals.

• Fishy breath - this may be caused by using poor quality or rancid cod liver oil products. You may be able to avoid this side effect by using enteric-coated or an emulsified fish oil product like Twin Lab Cod Liver Oil.

• Upset Stomach & Digestion - some people may experience fishy burps, indigestion, gas or diarrhea if they take too much cod liver oil. These are some of the most common side effects from fish oils.

  You can eliminate or reduce these side effects by taking only small amounts of cod liver oil to enhance digestion and taking with food. You may have to stop taking this supplement completely if these symptoms continue.

• Possible exposure to contaminants - you may be exposed to mercury, PCB's, dioxins, furans and other comtaminants if you do not use a highly-purified fish oil product. Make sure your cod liver oil has been tested to ensure it doesn't contain harmful levels of contaminants.

• Allergic reactions - if you're allergic to fish or fish proteins, you may be allergic to cod liver oil. Many high quality fish oils have the fish proteins removed during processing to optimize the omega 3 concentrations.

  You may have to research the processing method used to make the cod liver oil to determine if they have removed these allergic proteins from your product. Not all supplement companies follow the same manufacturing process so you may need to be aware of this.

Cod liver oil can meet your nutritional supplement needs if you take a good quality fish oil. Avoiding cod liver oil side effects is really easy if you choose quality over price. I always believed that most health-conscious people will seek out the best quality nutritional supplements for the maximum health benefits.