Antibody Builder (CT–416)
Shark Liver Oil
FACTS
The best-selling book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer introduced shark cartilage as a potential treatment for many different types of cancer. Shark cartilage works by inhibiting the process of angiogenesis, whereby new blood vessels are formed to deliver blood and nutrients to the tumor. If the tumor is denied blood, it cannot grow, and the cancer cannot spread. Researchers are now saying that a different part of the shark – the liver – may be an even more potent cancer fighter than the cartilage.
Shark liver oil is rich in vitamins A and D and also contains the biologically active compounds squalene and alkyglycerol (AKG), which are being studied for their disease-fighting properties. In addition, it contains other substances that may prove to be important for health. The net effect is that shark liver oil has a remarkable effect on the immune system. It enhances the production of macrophages, a type of white blood cell that helps control viral and yeast infections. And numerous studies have documented the ability of shark liver oil to inhibit chemically induced cancers in animals.
Shark liver oil can also protect against radiation injury, which may benefit cancer patients. Exposure to radiation normally results in depressed immune function, which includes a reduction in disease-fighting white cells and lymphocytes. However, when squalene, a component of shark liver oil, was added to their diet, animals exposed to a lethal dose of radiation maintained stronger immune systems and lived significantly longer than animals that were not given shark liver oil. Because of the positive results of these animal studies, shark liver oil is now being investigated as a cancer treatment for humans in combination with other therapies. Studies in Europe and Japan have shown that giving cancer patients shark liver oil before, during, and after radiation treatment will also help reduce some of the negative effects on immune function that often occur after treatment.
In addition to bolstering immune function, shark liver oil is a strong antioxidant that can protect cell membranes from free radical attack. If free radicals are allowed to penetrate the cell membranes, they can cause permanent damage that can lead to cancer and other disease. Shark liver oil supplements are taken daily to enhance immune function and to fortify against colds and other infections.
There are several shark liver oil products on the market of varying quality. The best products clearly list their squalene and AKG content; some researchers believe that sharks who live in deep, cold water are the richest source of these unique compounds. In addition, to look for minimally processed oils – the more processing, the more likely it is that beneficial ingredients are destroyed.
Possible Benefits
Strengthens immune function.
May thwart the growth of cancerous cells.
Shark Liver Oil has the highest naturally occurring level of alkylglycerols. These substances are found in our liver, spleen, bone marrow and human breast milk. They are part of the white blood cell production process. The oil stimulates production of leukocytes and thrombocytes, antibodies in the immune system. It also has antifungal and antibiotic properties that speed wound and sore healing. Fishermen have used it for centuries to sooth irritated respiratory tracts and reduce the size of swollen lymph nodes.