Fish liver oil is a type of fatty oil extracted from the liver of non-toxic marine fish such as cod, and it mainly contains fat-soluble vitamins A and D. We often hear doctors encourage giving fish liver oil to babies, but why is that? Let me reveal the secret for you!
Why do doctors encourage giving fish liver oil to babies?
Eating fish liver oil can prevent and treat rickets, which is well-known. Fish liver oil is a nutritional substance that strengthens bones. In the minds of most people, it has become essential to regularly give babies fish liver oil during their infancy. However, just like other nutritional supplements, fish liver oil has its pros and cons. Do not think that the more fish liver oil you consume, the better.
Some young parents, after giving their children fish liver oil for a period of time without achieving the "expected" results, excessively increase the dosage, resulting in a backlash. Instead of benefiting the children, it becomes harmful. The children may experience oily and itchy skin, hair loss, and poor digestive function. On the other hand, some parents believe that whether their children consume fish liver oil or not does not matter, and their children will grow normally. Especially during the winter when there is little sunlight in the house, they do not supplement fish liver oil and calcium appropriately, which leads to square-shaped heads, deformed chests, and curved limbs, indicating that their children have rickets.
Fish liver oil is commonly used to prevent and treat vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiency can cause dry skin, follicular keratosis, dry eye disease, and night blindness, while vitamin D deficiency can result in vitamin D-deficiency rickets.
When is the best time for newborns to take fish liver oil?
Generally, doctors will recommend starting to supplement fish liver oil for babies after half a month of birth, starting with one drop per day and gradually increasing it, but not exceeding five drops.
For premature babies, twins, or newborns with digestive tract diseases, fish liver oil should be added starting from the second week after birth, with a daily dosage of five drops, which can be reduced to three to five drops after one month. After the age of two, when outdoor activities increase and the main source of vitamin D becomes the synthesis of sunlight on the skin, there is no need to take fish liver oil anymore.
Babies with exceptionally good health will not be affected in their physical development if they stop consuming fish liver oil after one and a half years old.
In addition, the supplementation of fish liver oil also depends on the season. In winter, when there is insufficient sunlight, more supplementation is needed. In summer, when there is sufficient sunlight and more exposure of the skin to sunlight, the supplementation of fish liver oil can be temporarily stopped. Currently, there are many fish liver oil preparations available on the market, which can be classified according to the ratio of vitamin A to vitamin D, such as 2:1, 3:1, and 10:1. The 10:1 type is more likely to cause vitamin A toxicity and is not suitable for infants and young children. It is advisable for parents to choose the 3:1 type for their babies.
Precautions for taking fish liver oil
1. Although taking fish liver oil can prevent and treat rickets, it does not mean that every child needs to take it.
2. Fish liver oil belongs to the class of unsaturated fatty acids, with its main components being vitamin A and vitamin D. Many liver disease patients with weak bodies also use fish liver oil to supplement the fatty acids and vitamins they lack.
The vitamins contained in fish liver oil are very beneficial for liver disease patients, as they can stimulate the body's immune function. Fish liver oil can also prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.
However, due to liver damage in hepatitis patients, the liver's absorption and metabolic capacity decrease. Excessive consumption of fish liver oil can cause liver toxicity, which manifests as hair loss, dry and itchy skin, loss of appetite, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and increased intracranial pressure. Therefore, hepatitis patients should be cautious and consume an appropriate amount of fish liver oil.
3. The long-term and excessive consumption of fish liver oil capsules by elderly people will inevitably increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body. The occurrence of urinary tract stones is closely related to the increased levels of calcium and phosphorus in the urine. Excessive calcium and phosphorus in the blood can lead to an increase in calcium and phosphorus in the urine, making it prone to urinary tract stones.
Therefore, the dosage of fish liver oil should not be too high for elderly people. Generally, it is recommended to take one capsule three times a day, and stop taking it for one week after two weeks of continuous use. Drink plenty of water in daily life to increase urine excretion and prevent calcium deposition. People with urinary tract stones or weak constitutions should not take fish liver oil to avoid exacerbating stone symptoms or causing toxicity.
