NOW Foods Extra Strength Cod Liver Oil 1,000 mg (90 Softgels)

NOW Foods Extra Strength Cod Liver Oil (Item N1743) delivers a time-tested, nutrient-dense nutritional foundation in an easy-to-swallow softgel. Unlike standard omega-3 fish oils extracted solely from fish body tissues, cod liver oil is harvested specifically from the livers of cold-water Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). This natural origin supplies long-chain omega-3 fatty acids—Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)—paired with naturally occurring, preformed Vitamin A (retinol) and bioavailable Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).

Each 1,000 mg softgel provides full cardiovascular, visual, joint, and immune support without the harsh, unpalatable taste of traditional liquid fish oil. Packaged in a 90-softgel supply, this extra-strength formulation provides more active cod liver oil per capsule than standard 650 mg options, streamlining your daily supplement routine into a single daily serving.

• ✓Cardiovascular Health: EPA and DHA fatty acids support vascular integrity and healthy lipid metabolism.
• ✓Immune & Respiratory Defense: Vitamin A maintains the protective mucosal linings of the airways and gut.
• ✓Bone & Skeletal Strength: Vitamin D3 directs intestinal calcium absorption to support bone density.
• ✓Retinal & Neurological Integrity: Concentrated DHA incorporates directly into retinal and brain cell membranes.

How It Works in the Body: Nutritional Biochemistry & Cellular Pathways

The biological value of cod liver oil relies on the synergy between fat-soluble vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In standard diets, synthetic vitamins are often consumed in isolation, but the natural lipid matrix of cod liver oil provides the enzymatic cofactors required for optimal cellular absorption:

• Cell Membrane Fluidity & Resolution of Inflammation (EPA & DHA): EPA and DHA incorporate directly into the phospholipid bilayer of human cell membranes, displacing inflammatory omega-6 arachidonic acid. EPA metabolizes through the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways into 3-series prostaglandins and 5-series leukotrienes, which promote balanced cellular inflammation (Calder, P. C., 2015, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, PMID: 25149823). Furthermore, EPA and DHA serve as precursors to Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs)—including resolvins, protectins, and maresins—which signal tissues to clear cellular debris and restore baseline tissue health (Serhan, C. N., 2014, Nature, PMID: 24899309).
• Epithelial Integrity & Photoreceptor Function (Vitamin A): The preformed Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate and natural liver oil) in this formula is cleaved into retinol, carried via retinol-binding protein (RBP4) into peripheral tissues. Retinol converts to 11-cis-retinal, binding with opsin in retinal rod cells to form rhodopsin, the light-sensitive receptor needed for night vision and color contrast. Systemically, retinoic acid binds to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR/RXR) to regulate gene expression, sustaining epithelial barrier defenses across the respiratory and intestinal tracts (Huang, Z. et al., 2018, Journal of Clinical Medicine, PMID: 30200565).
• Mineral Homeostasis & Immune Modulation (Vitamin D3): Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) undergoes 25-hydroxylation in the liver to form 25(OH)D, followed by 1-alpha-hydroxylation in the kidneys to yield calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D). Calcitriol activates the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), upregulating calbindin-D28k and TRPV6 channels in the intestinal brush border to enhance dietary calcium and phosphorus uptake for bone mineralization. Calcitriol also modulates innate immune cells, triggering macrophages and dendritic cells to produce antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin (Holick, M. F., 2007, New England Journal of Medicine, PMID: 17634462).

FDA Qualified Health Statement: Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (FDA Docket No. FDA-2014-Q-1141).

Supplement Facts & Complete Ingredients

NOW Foods Cod Liver Oil 1,000 mg softgels are formulated to deliver standardized quantities of active vitamins and essential fatty acids. The exact label breakdown for SKU N1743 includes:

** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value (DV) not established.

Other Ingredients: Softgel Capsule [bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin, water].

Allergen Information: Contains fish (cod). Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a certified Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Geographic Origin: Cod liver oil is sourced from sustainably managed fisheries in Iceland and Norway. Encapsulated, batch-tested, and packaged in the USA.

NOW Foods Rigorous Lab Testing & Contaminant Verification

Marine oils bioaccumulate ocean contaminants if raw materials are not systematically verified. NOW Foods maintains in-house, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited analytical laboratories that run over 31,000 distinct tests every month across raw materials, in-process blends, and finished softgels.

NOW processes its cod liver oil under stringent temperature and atmospheric controls to eliminate impurities and guarantee molecular stability:

• Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS: Raw batches undergo Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to detect trace elemental heavy metals. Every production lot is confirmed to fall far below international safety thresholds for total mercury (< 0.1 mg/kg), lead (< 0.1 mg/kg), cadmium (< 0.1 mg/kg), and inorganic arsenic (< 0.1 mg/kg).
• Environmental Pollutant Clearance: Using high-resolution Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), NOW tests for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), ensuring total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) remain below 0.09 mg/kg and dioxins/furans do not exceed 2 picograms WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ per gram of oil.
• Oxidative Freshness Standards (GOED Compliance): Marine oils can oxidize into unpleasant peroxides and aldehydes. NOW tests each batch for Peroxide Value (PV ≤ 5 meq/kg) and p-Anisidine Value (p-AV ≤ 20). Total Oxidation (TOTOX = 2 × PV + p-AV) is maintained well under the strict voluntary monograph limit of 26 established by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED).
• Low-Heat Purification: The raw liver oil undergoes gentle molecular filtration and winterization to remove solid fats and marine odor components without denaturing delicate polyunsaturated double bonds or destroying naturally occurring vitamin complexes.

These standards ensure that every softgel provides clean, unoxidized oil free from rancidity, gastrointestinal distress, or industrial residue.

Suggested Use, Dosage Timing & Clinical Precautions

Recommended Daily Usage: Take 1 softgel daily, preferably with a meal containing dietary healthy fats (such as avocado, whole eggs, yogurt, or olive oil). Because Vitamin A and Vitamin D are fat-soluble, digestive bile secretion triggered by dietary fats markedly increases mucosal absorption and bioavailability.

Storage Instructions: Keep bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry environment after opening (60°F–75°F / 15°C–24°C). Avoid direct sunlight, excess ambient humidity, and storage near household heat sources (such as stovetops or dishwashers) to prevent softgel clumping or lipid oxidation.

Important Safety Considerations

• For Adults Only: Keep out of reach of children. Consult a healthcare provider before administering to adolescents.
• Pregnancy & Nursing: If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, consult your physician. Pregnant women should monitor total preformed Vitamin A intake from all sources to ensure they do not exceed 3,000 mcg RAE (10,000 IU) daily.
• Medication Interactions: Consult your doctor if you take prescription blood-thinning medications (such as warfarin, heparin, or aspirin) or antihypertensive drugs, as marine omega-3 fatty acids possess mild, natural antithrombotic and vasodilatory properties.
• Concurrent Supplementation: When stacking with a daily multivitamin or dedicated high-potency Vitamin D3 supplement, factor in the 300 mcg Vitamin A and 10 mcg (400 IU) Vitamin D3 provided by each softgel to stay within daily tolerable upper intake levels.