Cod liver oil benefits for female

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Cod Liver Oil Benefits for Females

Sociodemographic Factors and Cod Liver Oil Use

Cod liver oil is a popular supplement among Norwegian women, with 44.7% of women aged 41-55 reporting its use. Higher education, increased physical activity, and a normal body mass index (BMI) are associated with higher usage rates. Additionally, older women and those with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fish are more likely to use cod liver oil. Non-smokers are also more inclined to use this supplement compared to smokers .

Enhanced Nutritional Profile in Lactating Women

Lactating women who consume cod liver oil have a significantly higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This increased intake is reflected in their breast milk, which contains higher proportions of DHA, EPA, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). These fatty acids are crucial for the health and development of breast-fed infants, suggesting that regular maternal cod liver oil intake could benefit both the mother and the child 23.

Cognitive Development in Children

Maternal supplementation with cod liver oil during pregnancy and lactation has been linked to improved cognitive outcomes in children. A study found that children whose mothers took cod liver oil scored higher on intelligence tests at four years of age compared to those whose mothers took corn oil. This suggests that the DHA and EPA in cod liver oil may support brain development during critical growth periods .

Reduced Risk of Type 1 Diabetes

Cod liver oil consumption during the first year of life is associated with a lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. This protective effect is likely due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the long-chain n-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil. However, maternal use of cod liver oil during pregnancy did not show a significant association with reduced diabetes risk .

Impact on Bone Mineral Density

Interestingly, childhood consumption of cod liver oil has been linked to lower bone mineral density (BMD) in peri- and postmenopausal women. Women who reported taking cod liver oil during childhood had higher odds of low BMD in adulthood. This negative association may be due to the high vitamin A content in cod liver oil, which has been reduced in recent formulations .

Lipid Profile Improvement

Cod liver oil has also shown promise in improving lipid profiles. In a study, patients who took cod liver oil in addition to rosuvastatin experienced more significant reductions in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared to those who took rosuvastatin alone. This suggests that cod liver oil can be an effective adjunct therapy for managing elevated lipid parameters .

Conclusion

Cod liver oil offers several benefits for females, including enhanced nutritional profiles for lactating women, improved cognitive development in children, and better lipid management. However, its impact on bone mineral density warrants caution, particularly concerning its vitamin A content. Overall, cod liver oil can be a valuable supplement, but its use should be tailored to individual health needs and monitored for potential adverse effects.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Predictors for cod-liver oil supplement use — the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study

Cod-liver oil supplement use is associated with higher education, physical activity, and BMI in the normal range, as well as increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and vitamin D.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

2004·

83citations

·M. Brustad et al.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Diet and Breast Milk of Lactating Icelandic Women with Traditional Fish and Cod Liver Oil Consumption

Women consuming cod liver oil have higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and higher proportions of EPA,DPA, and DHA in breast milk, potentially impacting the health and development of breast-fed infants in later life.

Observational Study

2006·

52citations

·A. Olafsdottir et al.

Fatty acid composition in maternal milk and plasma during supplementation with cod liver oil

Cod liver oil supplementation increases DHA concentrations in mothers' breast milk without affecting AA or tocopherol concentrations.

RCTHighly Cited

1998·

83citations

·I. Helland et al.

Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age.

Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation improves children's IQ at 4 years of age compared to long-chain n-6 PUFAs (corn oil).

RCTLarge Human TrialHighly Cited

2003·

913citations

·I. Helland et al.

Use of cod liver oil during the first year of life is associated with lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes: a large, population-based, case-control study.

Cod liver oil use during the first year of life is associated with a lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes, possibly due to the antiinflammatory effects of long-chain n-3 fatty acids.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

2003·

423citations

·L. C. Stene et al.

Qinghaosu, dietary vitamin E, selenium, and cod-liver oil: effect on the susceptibility of mice to the malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelii.

Vitamin E deficiency enhances the antimalarial action of qinghaosu, while selenium deficiency does not, suggesting nutritional manipulation of antioxidant status may be a promising tool for malaria control.

Non-RCTAnimal StudyHighly Cited

1989·

97citations

·O. Levander et al.

Childhood cod liver oil consumption and bone mineral density in a population-based cohort of peri- and postmenopausal women: the Nord-Trondelag Health Study.

Childhood cod liver oil intake is associated with lower bone mineral density in adult women, potentially due to high vitamin A content in cod liver oil.

Observational StudyVery Rigorous Journal

2008·

27citations

·S. Forsmo et al.

Role of Cod Liver Oil in Reducing Elevated Lipid Parameters

Cod liver oil in addition to rosuvastatin effectively reduces cholesterol levels more effectively than rosuvastatin alone.

RCTLarge Human TrialRigorous Journal

2021·

4citations

·Faryal Fatima et al.

Prevention of covid-19 and other acute respiratory infections with cod liver oil supplementation, a low dose vitamin D supplement: quadruple blinded, randomised placebo controlled trial

Cod liver oil supplementation in winter did not reduce the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, serious covid-19, or other acute respiratory infections compared to placebo.

RCTLarge Human TrialRigorous Journal

2022·

40citations

·S. H. Brunvoll et al.

Role of Cod Liver Oil in Preventing Myocardial Infarction

Adding cod liver oil to the diet does not significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction in at-risk patients.

RCTLarge Human TrialRigorous Journal

2021·

0citations

·M. Mal et al.

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