Q: What is the most important safety warning for this product?
A: Do not use if you are pregnant. The vitamin A in this product is preformed retinol at 5,000 IU per softgel (10,000 IU per day at the recommended dose of 2 softgels per day). Preformed retinol at high doses is teratogenic and may cause birth defects. The safe upper limit for preformed vitamin A in pregnancy is approximately 3,000 IU per day in Canada. Even 1 softgel per day (5,000 IU) exceeds this limit. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not use this product. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Chronic intake of preformed vitamin A above the tolerable upper intake level can cause hypervitaminosis A. Consult a health care practitioner before use if you are taking blood thinners or anticoagulant medications, or if you have a fish allergy.
Q: What does this product do?
A: This product provides EPA and DHA (long-chain omega-3 fatty acids) alongside naturally occurring preformed vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from Atlantic cod liver oil. EPA is the precursor to anti-inflammatory 3-series eicosanoids and is incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids. DHA is the primary structural omega-3 fatty acid in the brain (approximately 97% of brain omega-3s are DHA) and retina (approximately 93% of retinal omega-3s are DHA). Vitamin A (retinol) is essential for vision (particularly night vision as the precursor to 11-cis-retinal in rod photoreceptors), immune function, and cell differentiation. Vitamin D3 supports calcium absorption and bone metabolism. Please verify the exact NPN 80136576 approved use language against your Health Canada NPN licence.
Q: What is the difference between cod liver oil and regular fish oil?
A: Cod liver oil and fish oil are both omega-3 supplements from fish but come from different parts of the fish with fundamentally different nutritional profiles. Fish oil is extracted from the body (flesh) of fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. The body oil is rich in EPA and DHA but contains negligible amounts of vitamins A and D, as these fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver, not the flesh. Cod liver oil is extracted specifically from the liver of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The liver is the primary storage organ for fat-soluble vitamins in fish, which is why cod liver oil naturally contains significant amounts of preformed vitamin A and vitamin D in addition to EPA and DHA. This combination of omega-3 fatty acids with naturally occurring vitamins A and D is the defining characteristic of cod liver oil. The trade-off is that the high vitamin A content requires careful attention to dose, particularly in pregnancy.
Q: What are the exact ingredients and amounts per softgel?
A: Per 1 softgel: Cod Liver Oil (Gadus morhua, Liver) 700mg; Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 49mg; Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 56mg; Vitamin A 1,500mcg RAE (5,000 IU); Vitamin D 12.5mcg (500 IU). At the recommended dose of 2 softgels per day, the daily totals are: Cod Liver Oil 1,400mg; EPA 98mg; DHA 112mg; total EPA and DHA 210mg; Vitamin A 3,000mcg RAE (10,000 IU); Vitamin D 25mcg (1,000 IU). Non-Medicinal Ingredients: Piscine Gelatin (non-GMO), Glycerin, Purified Water, d-alpha Tocopherol.
Q: What is EPA and what does it do?
A: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n-3) is a long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid. It is the precursor to the 3-series prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, a class of eicosanoids with anti-inflammatory properties. EPA competes with arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) for the same enzymes (cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase), reducing the production of pro-inflammatory 2-series eicosanoids. EPA is also incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids, influencing membrane fluidity and cell signaling. This formula provides 49mg EPA per softgel (98mg per day at 2 softgels).
Q: What is DHA and why is it important for the brain and retina?
A: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3) is a long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid and the primary structural omega-3 in the central nervous system. Approximately 97% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain are DHA, and approximately 93% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the retina are DHA. DHA is a major component of the phospholipid bilayer of neuronal cell membranes, where its six double bonds create a highly flexible molecular structure that influences membrane fluidity, receptor function, and signal transduction. This formula provides 56mg DHA per softgel (112mg per day at 2 softgels).
Q: Why does this softgel use fish gelatin instead of regular gelatin?
A: The softgel shell is made from piscine (fish-derived) gelatin rather than the bovine or porcine gelatin used in most softgel supplements. Piscine gelatin is derived from fish skin or scales and is suitable for those who avoid mammalian gelatin for religious, cultural, or personal reasons. It is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. The non-GMO designation applies to the piscine gelatin used in the shell.
Q: What is d-alpha Tocopherol and why is it in the formula?
A: d-alpha Tocopherol is natural vitamin E, included as an antioxidant preservative. EPA and DHA are highly unsaturated fatty acids with multiple double bonds that are susceptible to oxidative rancidity. Vitamin E donates hydrogen atoms to lipid peroxyl radicals, interrupting the chain reaction of lipid oxidation and preserving the integrity and freshness of the omega-3 fatty acids in the softgel. d-alpha Tocopherol is the natural form of vitamin E (as opposed to dl-alpha Tocopherol, the synthetic racemic form).
Q: How long does the 120 softgel bottle last?
A: At the recommended dose of 1 softgel twice per day (2 softgels per day), the 120 softgel bottle provides a 60 day supply. Adults 19 years and older only. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
