Shark Liver Oil
OTHER NAME(S): 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, Cetorhinus maximus, Centrophorus squamosus, Squalus acanthias, Shark Liver, Shark Oil, Aceite de Higado de Tiburon, Aceite De Hígado De Tiburón, Huile de foie de requin
Overview
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.
Uses
We currently have no information for Shark Liver Oil overview.
Side Effects
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.
Precautions
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.
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.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Shark Liver Oil overview.
Dosing
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.
References
- Lee JY, Lee KS, Kim TS, et al. Squalene-induced extrinsic lipoid pneumonia: serial radiologic findings in nine patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1999;23:730-5.
- Lee JS, Im JG, Song KS, et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: high-resolution CT findings. Eur Radiol 1999;9:287-91.
- Asnis DS, Saltzman HP, Melchert A. Shark oil pneumonia. An overlooked entity. Chest 1993;103:976-7.
- Skopinska-Rozewska E, Krotkiewski M, Sommer E, et al. Inhibitory effect of shark liver oil on cutaneous angiogenesis induced in Balb/c mice by syngeneic sarcoma L-1, human urinary bladder and human kidney tumour cells. Oncol Rep 1999;6:1341-4.
- Hichami A, Duroudier V, Leblais V, et al. Modulation of platelet-activating-factor production by incorporation of naturally occurring 1-O-alkylglycerols in phospholipids of human leukemic monocyte-like THP-1 cells. Eur J Biochem 1997;250:242-8.
- Loftsson T, Petersen DS, Le Goffic F, Olafsson JH. Unsaturated glycerol monoethers as novel skin penetration enhancers. Pharmazie 1997;52:463-5.
- Hasle H, Rose C. [Shark liver oil (alkoxyglycerol) and cancer treatment]. Ugeskr Laeger 1991;153:343-6.
- Deniau AL, Mosset P, Pédrono F, Mitre R, Le Bot D, Legrand AB. Multiple beneficial health effects of natural alkylglycerols from shark liver oil. Mar Drugs. 2010 Jul 19;8(7):2175-84.
- Kilincalp S, Deveci M, Basar O, Ekiz F, Coban S, Yuksel O. Shark liver oil: hidden dangers. Ann Hepatol. 2012 Sep-Oct;11(5):728-30.
- Hamadate N, Matsumoto Y, Seto K, Yamamoto T, Yamaguchi H, Nakagawa T, Yamamoto E, Fukagawa M, Yazawa K. Vascular effects and safety of supplementation with shark liver oil in middle-aged and elderly males. Exp Ther Med. 2015 Aug;10(2):641-646. Epub 2015 Jun 11.
- Paul S, Smith AAT, Culham K, et al. Shark liver oil supplementation enriches endogenous plasmalogens and reduces markers of dyslipidemia and inflammation. J Lipid Res 2021;62:100092.
- Zakrzewska K, Oszajca K, Zep W, Piekarska A, Sidorkiewicz M. The impact of short-term shark liver oil supplementation on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes. Nutrients 2021;13(10):3329.