Why cod liver oil really is good for you

by JAMES CHAPMAN, Daily Mail

For generations of children, it was a daily horror to have to swallow a spoonful of cod liver oil. Now scientists are saying that grandmother was quite right to insist on the foul-tasting liquid.

They say the oil could dramatically ease the pain of millions of arthritis sufferers.

It is also believed that lifelong consumption of the oil - said to be taken regularly by Tony Blair, Joan Collins and Terry Wogan - might protect against inflammatory diseases such as the bowel disorder Crohn's and the skin condition psoriasis, and even counteract migraine and menstrual pain.

The secret, according to the scientists, is the omega-3 fats found in oily fish and cod liver oil.

Scientists already knew that cod liver oil could help reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

But the new findings, unveiled at a seminar in Tromso, Norway, suggest it appears to halt and even reverse the breakdown of cartilage typical of osteoarthritis, the far more common form.

As many as ten million Britons suffer the joint pain, stiffness and swelling which make movement difficult.

Professor Bruce Caterson of Cardiff University studied the effects of cod liver oil on damaged cartilage taken from 12 arthritis sufferers who had knee replacement surgery.

'The study demonstrated that 24 hours' exposure to omega-3 fatty acids is enough to turn off the activity of enzymes that degrade cartilage,' said Professor Caterson.

'We are very excited by the results.' Dr Philip Calder, a nutritionist at Southampton University, told the meeting: 'Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids as found in cod liver oil should be part of the routine therapeutic management of patients with arthritis and similar conditions.'

Dr Calder said his analysis of 14 studies on the effects of cod liver oil on rheumatoid arthritis confirmed anecdotal evidence that it could have dramatic effects, adding that he would now recom-mend it for osteoarthritis as well.

As well as having possible beneficial effects on other conditions such as Crohn's disease and psoriasis, research is suggesting that depression, dyspraxia - also known as clumsy child syndrome - and schizophrenia might be eased by fish oils.

A regular intake of omega-3s is also associated with lower levels of fat in the blood, reducing the risk of a heart attack.

The Cardiff team is now launching a clinical trial of cod liver oil with arthritis patients.

Nutritionists are increasingly concerned about an overall decline in the amount of oily fish we eat. In 1998, the average Briton ate 146 grams of fish a week, compared with 283 grams in 1948.