Cod Liver Oil: essential medicinal for centuries

Good Rx for Diabetes

Cod livers contain the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA), along with vitamins A and D.

A recent clinical trial examined the role of marine-sourced omega-3 fatty acid fish oil supplementation in treating adipose tissue inflammation, thus reducing the risk for cardiometabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. This study revealed that fish-oil supplementation inhibits the effects of LDL on adipose tissue inflammation and its association with risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fish oil supplementation also improved the carbohydrate and fat metabolism in all subjects.

The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA supplementation:

• Improved the body's secretion of insulin in response to increased

  blood glucose and its clearance of blood fat after a high-fat meal.

• Hindered subjects' LDL ability to trigger inflammation in their own adipose tissue.

• Eliminated the link between adipose tissue inflammation induced by LDL, or other metabolic and microbial inflammatory triggers, with several risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

• Higher blood levels of EPA and DHA, correlated with increased improvement of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Pleiotropic effects of EPA and DHA: Supplementation with 2.7 g/d EPA and DHA over 12-weeks inhibited LDL-induced WAT-IL-1β-secretion ex vivo, ameliorated GIIS secretion and postprandial plasma clearance of chylomicrons and TG, and inhibited the association of WAT-IL-1β-secretion with multiple systemic risk factors for T2D and measures of WAT inflammation and dysfunction

Elevated numbers of atherogenic lipoproteins (apoB) predict the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We reported that this may be mediated via the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, as low-density lipoproteins (LDL) induce interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) secretion from human white adipose tissue (WAT) and macrophages. However, mitigating nutritional approaches remained unknown. We tested whether omega-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA) treat LDL-induced upregulation of WAT IL-1β-secretion and its relation to T2D risk factors. Twelve-week intervention with EPA and DHA (2.7 g/day, Webber Naturals) abolished baseline group-differences in WAT IL-1β-secretion between subjects with high-apoB (N = 17) and low-apoB (N = 16) separated around median plasma apoB. Post-intervention LDL failed to trigger IL-1β-secretion and inhibited it in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated WAT. Omega-3 supplementation also improved β-cell function and postprandial fat metabolism in association with higher blood EPA and mostly DHA. It also blunted the association of WAT NLRP3 and IL1B expression and IL-1β-secretion with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors including adiposity. Ex vivo, EPA and DHA inhibited WAT IL-1β-secretion in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, EPA and DHA treat LDL-induced upregulation of WAT NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway and related T2D risk factors. This may aid in the prevention of T2D and related morbidities in subjects with high-apoB. - V Lamantia, et al.

Clinical Trail Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04496154): Omega-3 to Reduce Diabetes Risk in Subjects with High Number of Particles That Carry “Bad Cholesterol” in the Blood

Everything Old is New Again

One of the earliest images of the man with a fish on his back appeared around 1884 on advertising trade cards.

Cod Liver Oil use as a medicinal dates back at least a millenium. The Vikings called it “the gold of the sea” for its treasured value in their culture. Historic uses included treatment of rickets, rheumatism and tuberculosis.

In addition to ingestion, its therapeutic formulations included poultices, salves, and ointments.

For a century we have utilized these livers in commercial products. Scott & Browne developed a method to extract oil, while diminishing the foul odor and taste. The ointments protected fishermen’s skin in the cold of winter, but then became a staple in baby nurseries for preventing diaper rash.

In WWII, governments directed homes to dose kids daily with a spoonful to prevent malnutrition during periods of food rationing; the habit continued post war with the Baby Boomer cohort.

In our current culture, Cod Liver Oil caplets provide ‘Winter Sunshine’ as a good source of vitamin D. And A&D Ointment is a staple to treat eczema.

So we must thank the North Sea fishermen who brave the elements and rough seas to provide us with this precious substance. And too, of course, our schools of cod fish.

https://vocm.com/2020/08/25/fisherman-catches-massive-codfish/

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REFERENCES

V Lamantia, et al. EPA and DHA inhibit LDL-induced upregulation of human adipose tissue NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway and its association with diabetes risk factors. Sci Rep 14, 27146 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73672-6

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-man-with-a-fish-on-his-back/

https://price-pottenger.org/journal_article/cod-liver-oil-a-historical-perspective/

https://www.greenpasture.org/blog/historical-perspectives-of-cod-liver-oil/