Can I Give My Baby COD Liver Oil?
Cod liver oil contains nutrients that may be good for both adults and children. Some companies market cod liver oil to parents of youngsters by offering kid-friendly flavors such as fruit punch. If you’re considering giving your baby cod liver oil, talk to your pediatrician first. Your child’s doctor is in the best position to determine what is safe or beneficial for your baby.
Safety
The American Academy of Pediatrics has not taken a position on the issue of cod liver oil for babies. Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chair of the AAP Committee on Nutrition, says the Academy has “no data to say one way or the other” whether cod liver oil is safe for infants. He says cod liver oil is routinely used by mothers in Europe and “no adverse effects have been described.” Still, he encourages parents to talk to their children’s doctors before giving babies any type of supplements.
Benefits
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Fish oils, including cod liver oil, are rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and have been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including high triglycerides, heart disease, depression, thinking disorders, dry eyes and diabetes. Bhatia says cod liver oil is high in DHA, which may offer visual and cognitive for benefits for babies. He says some studies have found a positive impact from taking DHA while others showed no real benefit. He adds that for full-term infants, there have been no negatives. Cod liver oil is also a good source of vitamins A and D.
- Fish oils, including cod liver oil, are rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and have been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including high triglycerides, heart disease, depression, thinking disorders, dry eyes and diabetes.
- Bhatia says cod liver oil is high in DHA, which may offer visual and cognitive for benefits for babies.
Dosage
The AAP makes no recommendations about how much cod liver oil is safe or beneficial for babies, but Bhatia notes that DHA is used in infant formulas and added to some toddler foods. A minimum amount has not been specified, but a maximum amount has been established for infant formulas. Bhatia says the amount present in formulas is 0.25 to 0.3 percent of the fat. Again, Bhatia stresses you should not give your baby any supplements without a physician’s guidance.
- The AAP makes no recommendations about how much cod liver oil is safe or beneficial for babies, but Bhatia notes that DHA is used in infant formulas and added to some toddler foods.
Warning
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Dr. Bhatia warns that “relying on supplements from the general market does not assure you of their safety.” There is a risk of mercury contamination with some fish oil supplements. Cod liver oil is high in vitamin A, and that can pose risks, too. Vitamin A is good for skin, teeth and bones, as well as vision. However, it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, which means excess amounts are stored in the body. Too much vitamin A can actually make you sick, and large doses of vitamin A in women can cause birth defects.
- Dr. Bhatia warns that “relying on supplements from the general market does not assure you of their safety.” However, it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, which means excess amounts are stored in the body.
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References
- Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chair, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition
- Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin A
- KidsHealth.org: Vitamin D
- Medline Plus: Fish Oil
- Medline Plus: Vitamin A
- Mozaffarian, Dariush MD, DrPH. Fish oil and marine omega-3 fatty acids. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate. Jan 23, 2019
- Cod Liver Oil. Medline Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 08/15/2018
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Fact Sheet for Consumers. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. November 21, 2018
- Eysteinsdottir T, Halldorsson TI, Thorsdottir I, et al. Cod liver oil consumption at different periods of life and bone mineral density in old age. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(2):248-56.
- Lentjes MA, Welch AA, Mulligan AA, Luben RN, Wareham NJ, Khaw KT. Cod liver oil supplement consumption and health: cross-sectional results from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study. Nutrients. 2014;6(10):4320–4337. Published 2014 Oct 16. doi:10.3390/nu6104320
- Mavroeidi A, Aucott L, Black AJ, Fraser WD, Reid DM, Macdonald HM. Seasonal variation in 25(OH)D at Aberdeen (57°N) and bone health indicators--could holidays in the sun and cod liver oil supplements alleviate deficiency?. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(1):e53381.
- Mozaffarian, Dariush MD, DrPH. Fish oil and marine omega-3 fatty acids. Waltham, MA: Jan 23, 2019
- National Institutes of Health. "Fish oil: MedlinePlus Supplements". August 2018.
Writer Bio
Carol Ochs is an award-winning writer in the Washington, D.C. area. During 17 years with The Associated Press she covered health, medical and sports stories as a writer, editor and producer. She has written for the health section of "The Washington Post," a Fairfax County stewardship publication and a biopharmaceutical newsletter. Ochs has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Ohio University, Athens.