Nearly 35,000 people have participated in the large Norwegian trance study. Last winter, half of the participants received a normal daily dose of cod liver oil from the researchers. The other half received corn oil, a so-called placebo. Both oils tasted of lemon, and none of the participants could tell whether it was cod liver oil or corn oil. The researchers wanted to find out if the group that received cod liver oil was less exposed to covid-19. Arne Søraas has worked on the trance study since autumn 2020. Photo: Torstein Bøe / news Researcher and infectious disease doctor Arne Søraas has led the trance study, with a team of 14 Norwegian researchers. – The main reason why we wanted to investigate the effect of cod liver oil is that several previous studies have shown that vitamin D can have a positive effect on the immune system, says Søraas to news. Cod liver oil is fish oil that is rich in D vitamins. In this country, cod liver oil has long been common as a dietary supplement in the dark season. In winter, we get little vitamin D from sunlight, and many people therefore take cod liver oil as a supplement. Medically, this supplement is considered a low dosage of D vitamins. Facts about cod liver oil and vitamin D. *”Crane oil is a beautiful and foul-smelling oil.” Swedish Wikipedia.*” Cod liver oil is an oil extracted from fish liver (fish oil or marine oil), and which is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D and unsaturated fatty acids.” -Norwegian Wikipedia.*The health benefits of cod liver oil have been known for hundreds of years in Norway, although it was not known exactly which components were good.*Originally, cod liver oil was produced by filling large vats with cod liver and setting it out in the sun. When the liver rotted, the cod liver oil floated to the surface.*In the 1850s, Peter Möller developed his new method of steam melting medicinal cod liver oil, so that it lost most of its unpleasant smell and taste. * Vitamin D is vital for the body because it stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the intestine, the basic components of bone structure and teeth. * Vitamin D is formed when we get sunlight on our bodies.* There are large amounts of vitamin D in fatty fish. Fatty dairy products and eggs are also sources of vitamin D.* Food supplements such as cod liver oil, vitamin D drops and vitamin D-enriched products are recommended, especially in winter when there is little sunlight. (NTB/ Møller’s cod liver oil/ Wikipedia) Surprised the scientists But can this daily tablespoon or capsules of cod liver oil make us more resistant to corona infection? Now Arne Søraas and the other researchers have published a clear answer in the renowned British Medical Journal. The result of the study is completely unambiguous; the common dietary supplement with cod liver oil in the Norwegian population has absolutely no proven effect against the pandemic. The supplement of cod liver oil also has no effect against other respiratory infections. There was no difference between the group that received cod liver oil and the group that received corn oil. The investigation lasted for around six months. During this period, approximately the same number of people in each of the two groups became ill from covid-19. – We are surprised by the result, and had thought that people came out better when they received a supplement of vitamins D, says Søraas. Many of the participants who drank corn oil thought it was cod liver oil. But it did not give any results as to who was infected with covid-19. Photo: Marit Sirum-Eikre Don’t know the long-term effects There are several possible explanations for why the new Norwegian study does not demonstrate any effect of cod liver oil. Firstly, the 35,000 who took part in the survey are a cross-section of the population, and are not basically a group with particularly low levels of vitamin D in the blood. Other studies from abroad have previously shown that it is particularly people with a large deficiency of vitamin D who have an increased risk of getting severe covid-19. In the Norwegian study, the participants received small doses of vitamin D. Arne Søraas says that larger doses will not necessarily have a better effect on most people, and refers to other studies that have been carried out on exactly this. He also points out that their study cannot say anything about the long-term effects of cod liver oil, since their investigation only took place over six months. – We cannot ignore the fact that you have to take cod liver oil longer for us to see an effect. We also don’t know how many of our participants may have taken cod liver oil for a long time before they joined the study, says Søraas. Doesn’t stop with cod liver oil Even though the study shows no effect of cod liver oil against corona infection and other respiratory infections, Arne Søraas does not want to stop taking his daily spoonful. He says the fish oil can have other beneficial effects on the body. The fatty acid omega 3 can be good for the heart, and cod liver oil can also help prevent harmfully low levels of vitamin D in the blood. A serious lack of vitamin D increases the risk of getting several other types of diseases. – Our study has also shown that cod liver oil produces very few side effects, and is therefore a safe dietary supplement to use, says Søraas.
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Norwegian research shows that cod liver oil has no effect and effect against covid-19 and corona infection – news Trøndelag
