Cod liver oil is exactly what its name says, oil extracted from the liver of a cod, which makes it an animal product regardless of the vitamins it happens to be rich in.
Made fromCod fish liver
Also providesVitamin A and vitamin D, alongside omega-3s
VerdictNot vegan
Where it hides
Traditional cod-liver oil capsules and liquid tonics
Combined vitamin A and D supplements
Some pet supplements
Distinct from plain "fish oil", which is pressed from the whole fish, not the liver
What it is and why it differs from fish oil
Cod liver oil is not the same product as ordinary fish oil, even though both are fish-derived omega-3 supplements. Fish oil is rendered from the body of oily fish such as anchovy or sardine, while cod liver oil is specifically pressed from the liver of cod, an organ that concentrates fat-soluble vitamins alongside the omega-3s.
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Cod liver oil supplements provide vitamin A and vitamin D in addition to LC omega-3s.
That extra vitamin A and D content is the whole reason cod liver oil has its own name and its own long history as a household remedy, well before omega-3 fatty acids were even identified. It is also why cod liver oil needs a more careful dose than plain fish oil: too much delivers more vitamin A and D than intended, alongside the omega-3s.
Vegan alternatives, taken one nutrient at a time
There is no vegan cod liver oil, because there is no vegan cod. Replacing it means covering its three main nutrients separately: algal oil for the omega-3 fatty acids, since it is explicitly documented as the vegetarian alternative to fish and krill oils; a vitamin D2 or lichen-derived D3 supplement for the vitamin D; and either beta-carotene or synthetic retinol for the vitamin A, since natural preformed retinol otherwise comes only from animal foods.
Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)Fish oil is not vegan, but the EPA and DHA in it start in algae, and algal oil delivers the same omega-3s. Plant ALA from flax and chia is vegan too.
Krill oilKrill oil is pressed from krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans harvested by the tonne from the Southern Ocean, so it is an animal product whatever health claim is printed on the bottle.
RetinolThe retinol in a skincare serum or a vitamin A capsule almost never comes from an animal any more, it is built in a lab from petrochemical starting materials, though the soft capsule holding it sometimes still is.
Omega-3s on a vegan dietThe Evidence · Flax and walnuts give you the parent omega-3. Turning it into the ones your brain and heart use is inefficient, which is where algae oil comes in.
Vitamin D on a vegan dietThe Evidence · Vitamin D is the one almost everyone runs low on in winter, vegan or not. The plant-friendly fix is D2 or lichen D3, plus fortified foods and sensible sun.
Frequently asked
Is fish oil the same as cod liver oil?
No. Fish oil is usually rendered from the body of small oily fish, while cod liver oil is specifically pressed from cod liver, which is why cod liver oil also carries a strong dose of vitamin A and vitamin D that ordinary fish oil does not.
What replaces cod liver oil for someone who doesn't eat fish?
No single product does, since cod liver oil bundles three nutrients together. Algal oil covers the omega-3s, a vitamin D supplement covers the vitamin D, and a separate vitamin A source, whether beta-carotene or synthetic retinol, covers the vitamin A.
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