Until about 50 years ago, no one knew that the precious ingredients of fish liver oils are the concentrated vitamins A and D. Nor does anyone know up to the present time why these vitamins occur in such abundance in fish livers. Halibut liver oil has largely displaced cod liver oil as a food supplement today, because it is extremely rich in vitamin A, so that a small amount of it provides much more vitamin A than cod liver oil does.

Let us briefly consider some information on these two important vitamins. Vitamin A can be obtained from both animal and vegetable food. Vitamin D is available only in animal products and with the aid of the ultraviolet rays of the sun; that is, lipids under your skin can manufacture vitamin D from sunlight. The amount of vitamin D in animal products (cream and butter, for example) is infinitesimal compared with the wealth of vitamin D in fish liver oil.

Vitamin A is stored primarily in the liver, as well as in the lungs, kidneys, adrenals, sex glands, and breasts. Vitamin E has a sparing action on vitamin A by protecting it from oxidation and also by enhancing its effect. Adequate serum and tissue levels of zinc are necessary in the metabolism, storage and mobilization of vitamin A. Being a fat-soluble vitamin, its proper assimilation depends on some sort of fat in the diet.

Vitamin A is depleted in malnutrition, heart disease, hypothyroidism, and most illnesses, particularly pneumonia and cirrhosis. It is necessary to maintain normal hearing and sense of smell, as well as to maintain healthy teeth and gums. It also has potent anti-infective and anti-cancer properties, probably because of its role in stimulating antibodies and in maintaining a healthy thymus. A lack of vitamin A causes a degeneration of epithelial cells with primary effects on the skin, eyes, and nervous system. In regard to the eyes, one notes light sensitivity, night blindness (inability to adapt to dark after light), dryness, loss of tears, corneal cloudiness and softening. A deficiency of vitamin A also causes degeneration of the endocrine and nervous systems, as well as the more obvious problems - dryness, eczema and acne. In conclusion, vitamin A is of the utmost importance in growth and development, as well as in the maintenance of health, and prevention of disease.

The most important role of vitamin D in the body seems to be that it enhances the absorption of calcium in the intestine. People who are deficient in vitamin D may be absorbing as little as 10 percent of the calcium that they are eating (30 to 40 percent is normal). Vitamin D also removes phosphates from certain phosphate-containing food additives. By increasing the absorption rate of calcium and helping to remove excess phosphate-containing compounds, vitamin D helps ensure that the blood contains suitable levels of calcium and phosphorus in proper balance to form normally mineralized bones and teeth.

A certain amount of sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) is required to change the cholesterol-like precursor under the skin to vitamin D. It soon became apparent that children living in smoggy cities, particularly in northern climates, were not forming sufficient vitamin D when rickets became a common childhood disease. Rickets is characterized by soft, easily deformed bones, weak legs, pale skin, flabby muscles, and irritability and restlessness. Osteomalacia is the adult vitamin D deficiency disease and occurs when the bones become decalcified and brittle, breaking as a result of the slightest fall. Dowagers hump and the stooping posture of many elderly people is due to this demineralization process.

It is not difficult to understand how Halibut Liver oil fits into a daily supplement program, since it contains both of these nutrients so vital to a strong, healthy, disease free body. And with the availability of odorless, tasteless capsules we are fortunate to not have to contend with the strong taste and smell!