Cod liver oil

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Generality

As the name implies, cod liver oil is a food obtained from the liver organ of this fish.

In the past, it was used as a remedy for rickets, a defect in bone calcification caused by a reduced intake of vitamin D. Today, rickets is fortunately rare, but in the past it has affected many children (including the famous poet Leopardi).
Although its traditional use has fallen into disuse, cod liver oil has recently returned to the fore thanks to the considerable nutritional importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), of which it is particularly rich.
In the PUFA group, fatty acids belonging to the omega 3 series are of great interest, namely alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Not surprisingly, these three lipids are defined essential fatty acids (AGE), as the body, not being able to synthesize them, must introduce them with food to maintain a state of well-being.
The average weight of a liver of a 100 g adult cod is 2.5-2.6 grams; its oil content is around 30% (ie 1.5-1.6 ml of oil).