SHARK LIVER OIL

Where it is found:

Cold-water sharks' livers are the source of shark liver oil. Because it is rich in alkylglycerols, which have proven themselves effective against certain cancers, shark liver oil is often used in conjunction with other treatments for cancer, as well as other illnesses. Other potential sources of alkylglycerols are breast milk and bone marrow. At present, studies are being conducted on the health benefits brought by shark liver oil's squalene and squalamine components.

Brief history:

People from the Swedish and Norwegian coasts have reportedly been using shark liver oil to treat wounds and remedy digestive and respiratory problems. But it was in the 1950s when a young doctor from Sweden discovered that bone marrow alkaglycerols could help children recovering white blood cells that were lost from chemotherapy and radiation. And since shark liver oil is one of the richest sources of alkaglycerols, it was finally processed for commercial use in 1986.

Medicinal value:

Aside from alkyglycerols, shark liver oil also constists of essential vitamins and enzymes, such as pristane, omega-3, triglycerides, fatty alcohols, squalene, vitamin A and D, and glycerol ethers. Presently, it is marketed as a dietary supplement to help strengthenthe immune system, hasten the healing of wounded tissue, and as a supplement to cancer treatments.

Shark liver oil also has the ability to directly target tumor cells and eradicate them. Scientists say this is perhaps because alkyglycerols help shield cell membranes from invasions. And because shark liver oil is an excellent immune system booster, it serves a huge benefit against the likes of asthma, colds, flu, arthritis, recurring infections, psoriasis, and even AIDS. These findings have not been substantiated through controlled experimentation, however.

Other uses for shark liver oil are as follows:

• to normalize diabetes patients' digestive and metabolic functions
• to help relieve pain, mimicking the effect of some anesthetics and analgesics
• to help speed up recovery of an impaired nervous system
• to fight off cirrhosis in the liver and viral hepatitis
• to prevent the signs of ageing, particularly in the skin