Contents:
- Medical Video: Tips from a Pediatrician : How to Get Kids to Take Fish Oil
- What are the benefits of cod liver oil?
- 1. Protect the child's eye health
- 2. Prevent rickets
- 3. Protect heart health
- 4. Increases the child's immunity
- Does the child need cod liver oil?
Medical Video: Tips from a Pediatrician : How to Get Kids to Take Fish Oil
You may be familiar with cod liver oil. The product is now on the market so it's easy to find. Not infrequently, many mothers give cod liver oil to their children because they are believed to support the growth and development of children. Actually, what are the benefits and cod liver oil and do children need to be given this oil? Come on, see the explanation below.
What are the benefits of cod liver oil?
Cod liver oil is an oil extracted from cod liver. The famous cod species are Atlantic cod and Pacific cod. So far, cod liver oil has been believed to improve children's health because of its high nutritional content. Yes, cod liver oil can be a source of vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).
The following are the benefits of cod liver oil.
1. Protect the child's eye health
Cod fish oil is rich in sources of vitamin A. In one tablespoon of this oil contains 4080 micrograms of vitamin A, which is more than enough to meet the vitamin A needs of children of all ages.
In addition to being needed for cell growth, vitamin A is also needed to maintain healthy eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Vitamin A contained in cod liver oil is also rich in antioxidants that can prevent eye damage, such as glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye disease that can damage the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.
Besides vitamin A, the content of omega-3 fatty acids high in this oil can also help maintain blood flow to the eyes. This makes the normal vision of the child stay healthy from time to time.
2. Prevent rickets
Cod fish oil also contains high vitamin D. In one tablespoon containing 1360 IU of vitamin D. This amount is also more than enough to meet a child's daily vitamin D needs.
Vitamin D is needed in growing children because it can help the body absorb calcium to form strong bones. Lack of vitamin D intake can cause rickets, which causes bones to fail to carry out the mineralization process. This makes the bones soft and the shape of the bones becomes abnormal. Well, cod liver oil that is rich in vitamin D can help prevent this disease.
3. Protect heart health
The content of omega 3 fatty acids in cod fish oil is a good nutrient to protect children's heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that can protect the heart by increasing good cholesterol levels and reducing triglyceride levels. In addition to heart health, fatty acids in cod fish oil can also support the development of the brain and nervous system of children.
4. Increases the child's immunity
Cod fish oil can also increase a child's immunity so that the child does not get sick easily. As quoted from Livestrong, vitamin A in cod liver oil can boost immunity. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2010 also reported that cod fish oil could reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (ARI).
Does the child need cod liver oil?
Seeing the many benefits that codfish oil has, you as a parent may feel the need to provide the oil to the child. However, the administration of cod liver oil in excessive doses is also feared to cause excess vitamin A intake in children. Fat-soluble vitamin A can be stored in the body in excessive amounts and cause adverse effects.
So, if the child has been given cod liver oil, the child should not be given other vitamin supplements, especially those containing vitamin A.
In addition, if children are considered capable of meeting their nutritional needs of various types of food - such as vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A, milk rich in vitamin D, and fatty fish and nuts that are rich in omega-3- fatty acids, children may not need to consume cod liver oil. Before giving children cod liver oil, you should consult with your doctor first.
