What's That Rash? Should we all be taking fish oil?
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Feb 3, 2026 They trace cod‑liver oil’s folk remedy past and how vitamin A and D shaped its reputation. They unpack the Inuit heart‑disease story and early epidemiology linking whole‑fish intake to heart health. Chemistry of omega‑3s (EPA vs DHA) and the atrial fibrillation debate get attention. They compare dietary advice versus supplements and who might actually benefit from high‑dose fish oil.
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Childhood Cod Liver Oil Memories
- Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor recall being forced to take cod liver oil as children and hating the taste.
- Tegan remembers her mother letting them take it with Coca-Cola to avoid spitting it out.
Questionable Inuit Heart Disease Claim
- The myth that Inuit populations had almost no heart disease likely arose from poor death records in remote areas.
- Early observations linking fish diets to low heart disease risk may overstate the effect.
Omega‑3s Identified As Key Fish Component
- Epidemiology suggested people eating two fish meals weekly had less coronary heart disease.
- Researchers focused on omega-3s EPA and DHA as the likely beneficial components.