When summer arrives, it is often recommended to those who live in northern climates (such as the northern United States or in Canada) to switch from cod liver oil to fish oil. Otherwise, there's a risk of toxicity from excess accumulation of vitamin A by exposure from the sun, various dietary sources, vitamin supplements and cod liver oil. Those living in southern states should avoid cod liver oil year-round.
Many vitamins are water soluable and aren't stored in the body, but vitamin A is fat soluable and can be stored in the liver for a long time. The signs of vitamin A toxicity are bone and joint pain; hair loss, skin dryness, itching and flaking; weakness and fatigue; and in some cases, headache and vision problems. Fortunately, these symptoms reverse themselves when excess vitamin A intake is stopped. Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A, meaning the body uses it to make its own vitamin A. But unlike vitamin A, beta-carotene poses no known toxicity risks.
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Fish Oil vs. Cod Liver Oil
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