Shark liver oil
Scientific names: Cetorhinus maximus, Centrophorus squamosus, Squalus acanthias
Alternate names: Aceite de Hígado de Tiburón, Basking Shark Liver Oil, Deep Sea Shark Liver Oil, Dog Fish Liver Oil, Foie de Requin, Huile de Foie d'Aiguillat, Huile de Foie de Requin, Huile de Foie de Requin de Grands Fonds, Huile de Foie de Requin Pèlerin, Huile de Requin, Greenland Shark Liver Oil, Leafscale Gulper Shark Liver Oil, Piked Dogfish Liver Oil, Squalene
Actions: Anticancer, Cardiovascular, Immune, Male fertility, Radioprotective
Background
Shark liver oil comes from the livers of different types of sharks. It is used as a source of compounds called alkylglycerols, which are a type of fat.
The alkylglycerols in shark liver oil might have anticancer effects and help boost the immune system.
People use shark liver oil for cancer, chemotherapy side effects, common cold, the flu, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse shark liver oil with other marine oils, including cod liver oil, fish oil, or krill oil. Also don't confuse it with other products that come from sharks, including liver extract, shark cartilage, and squalamine. These are not the same.
The alkylglycerols in shark liver oil might have anticancer effects and help boost the immune system.
People use shark liver oil for cancer, chemotherapy side effects, common cold, the flu, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse shark liver oil with other marine oils, including cod liver oil, fish oil, or krill oil. Also don't confuse it with other products that come from sharks, including liver extract, shark cartilage, and squalamine. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Shark liver oil is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of 1.5 grams daily have been used safely for up to 8 weeks. It's usually well-tolerated.
High cholesterol: Shark liver oil might increase cholesterol levels when used in large amounts. People with high cholesterol should avoid taking shark liver oil or use it only in moderation.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if shark liver oil is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.High cholesterol: Shark liver oil might increase cholesterol levels when used in large amounts. People with high cholesterol should avoid taking shark liver oil or use it only in moderation.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using shark liver oil for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of shark liver oil might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if Shark Liver Oil interacts with any medicines. Before taking Shark Liver Oil, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 08/03/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 26/12/2012 18:28:23. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.
Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
