

Never switch from a prescription medicine to a supplement without the help and oversight of your doctor. Taking fish oil or cod liver oil with food, especially fatty food, may help you better digest and absorb the omega-3 fatty acids.

You can also take fish oil in addition to vitamin A and D supplements if you want the benefits from those vitamins but don’t want to take cod liver oil. If you don’t want those extra vitamins, take just the fish oil.

If you want those extra vitamins, you can take just cod liver oil. Both oils deliver the benefits from omega-3 fatty acids, but cod liver oil has the added vitamins A and D. It’s likely best to take only fish oil or cod liver oil, but not both together. You can visit the National Institutes of Health database of dietary supplement labels if you want to research a particular brand. Too much omega-3 fatty acids in any form can have risky side effects. When it comes to supplements, more of a good thing isn’t always better. 3 ounces of Pacific cod, cooked, has 0.10 grams of DHA and 0.04 grams of EPA.3 ounces of wild Atlantic salmon, cooked, has 1.22 grams of DHA and 0.35 grams of EPA.There’s no standard recommended dosage of EPA or DHA, so you can determine the right dose for you by talking with your doctor, reading supplement bottle labels, and comparing the EPA and DHA levels to what you might get if you ate a whole fish. Supplements usually contain less mercury than fresh fish.Ĭalculate your fish oil and cod liver oil dosage based on the amount of EPA, DHA, and vitamins in fish oil or cod liver oil. interactions with contraceptive medication, weight loss drugs containing orlistat, and blood medicationsįish oil and cod liver oil supplements come in capsule and liquid forms.trouble with blood clotting or nosebleeds.contain unhealthy levels of vitamins A and D, although this is still debatedĭon’t take cod liver oil if you’re pregnant.People with heart and blood conditions should be cautious about taking either fish oil or cod liver oil.It’s unknown if fish oil or cod liver oil are safe for people with fish and shellfish allergies.Especially talk with your child’s pediatrician before administering either oil to your child.Both fish oil and cod liver oil might cause minor side effects, and they may not be safe for all people: If you don’t eat two to three servings of (nonfried) fish per week, you may benefit from taking fish oil or cod liver oil supplements.īoth fish oil and cod liver oil are generally considered safe, but you should still talk with your doctor before taking them. This hasn’t been proven to be as beneficial as the fatty acids from fish oils. Some plant sources (such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oil) contain another kind of omega-3 fatty acid, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). These omega-3 fatty acids are the “good oils” that everyone needs to include in their diet. The fatty acids in fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The human body can’t make its own omega-3 fatty acids, which is why you need to include them in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids support many body systems and may prevent a number of ailments. The health benefits of both fish oil and cod liver oil come from their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Generally speaking, though, cod liver oil is a specific type of fish oil. They come from different fish sources and have unique benefits. Cod liver oil and fish oil are two different health supplements.
