Fish Liver Oil — Safety & Interactions

Yu Gan You · Oleum Fecoris Piscis

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy if retinol dose is not carefully controlled
  • Existing hypervitaminosis A or vitamin A-sensitive liver disease
  • Use of multiple vitamin A or vitamin D supplements without dose review
  • Fish allergy or sensitivity to the specific product source

Cautions

  • Fish liver oil is not the same as ordinary fish oil because vitamin A toxicity becomes a central concern at higher or repeated doses.
  • Products vary widely in retinol, vitamin D, and omega-3 content, so brand-to-brand substitution is not trivial.
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Drug Interactions

Drug Class / Substrate Mechanism Severity Source
Retinoid medications or additional vitamin A supplements - additive toxicity risk
Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs - theoretical additive bleeding risk from omega-3 fractions
High-dose vitamin D supplements - possible additive hypercalcemia risk depending on product content

Pregnancy

Not recommended during pregnancy. Consult a qualified practitioner before any use.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.