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The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 18:445-446 (2005)
© 2005 American Board of Family Practice

Correspondence

Fish Oil versus Cod Liver Oil: Is Vitamin D a Reason to Go Back to the Future

Celia M. Ross, MS

Wilmington, DE

To the Editor: As Dr. Oh1 points out in his article, fish oil supplementation has gained popularity in recent years because of the many health benefits of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). Dr. Oh’s article provides a thorough review of the literature on this topic and recommendations for fish oil supplementation. However, although fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 LCPUFAs, it doesn’t provide the significant levels of vitamin D that cod liver oil does.2 Vitamin D is concentrated in the liver of the fish and thus plentiful in cod liver oil, a time-honored source of vitamin D. Fish oil is made from the whole body of the fish and has an insignificant amount of vitamin D.

Hypovitaminosis D is a significant public health concern.3–5 In a study of healthy adolescents, Gordon et al5 found that 24.1% were vitamin D deficient and 42.0% were vitamin D insufficient. LeBoff et al4 found an association between hip fractures in older women and lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to metabolic syndrome.6,7 Vitamin D seems to play a protective role against breast, prostate, and colon cancer.8 Animal experiments link vitamin D deficiency to abnormal brain development. The broad spectrum of effects from suboptimal levels of vitamin D reflect its varied functions. Vitamin D plays important roles in bone health and mineral homeostasis, immune modulation, muscle function, nervous system function, control of the renin-angiotensin system, control of insulin secretion, skin function, regulation of apoptosis, and regulation of cell growth.

Cod liver oil contains both vitamin D and omega-3 LCPUFAs.2 Individuals at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency may wish to consider substituting cod liver oil for fish oil supplementation.

References

  1. Oh R. Practical applications of fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) in primary care. J Am Board Fam Pract 2005; 18: 28–36.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

  2. Linday LA, Dolitsky JN, Shindledecker RD. Nutritional supplements as adjunctive therapy for children with chronic/recurrent sinusitis: pilot research. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2004; 68: 785–93.[Free Full Text]

  3. Thomas MK, Demay MB. Vitamin D deficiency and disorders of vitamin D metabolism. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2000; 29: 611–27, viii.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

  4. LeBoff MS, Kohlmeier L, Hurwitz S, et al. Occult vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal US women with acute hip fracture. JAMA 1999; 281: 1505–11.

  5. Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, et al. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004; 158: 531–7.

  6. Ford ES, Ajani UA, McGuire LC, Liu S. Concentrations of serum vitamin D and the metabolic syndrome among U.S. adults. Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 1228–30.

  7. Boucher BJ. Inadequate vitamin D status: does it contribute to the disorders comprising syndrome ‘X’? Br J Nutr 1998; 79: 315–27.

  8. Dusso AS, Brown AJ, Slatopolsky E. Vitamin D. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2005; 289: F8–F28.


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This Article
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