Shark liver oil

Sharks typically targeted for their liver oil include the school and gulper shark, and the basking shark (pictured).[1] All three of these species are either endangered[2][3] or critically endangered[4] due to overfishing according to the IUCN, although a legal targeted fishery for basking sharks no longer exists.[2]

Shark liver oil is an oil obtained from the livers of sharks. It has been used for centuries as a folk remedy to promote the healing of wounds and as a remedy for respiratory tract and digestive system problems.[5][6] It is still promoted as a dietary supplement, and additional claims have been made that it can treat other maladies such as cancer, HIV, radiation sickness, swine flu, and the common cold.[5][7] To date, none of these claims has been medically validated and shark liver oil (alone) is not a medication prescribed or utilized by American physicians.[7] However, it is a component of some moisturizing skin lotions[6] and hemorrhoid medications.[8][9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vannuccini2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Rigby, C.L.; Barreto, R.; Carlson, J.; Fernando, D.; Fordham, S.; Francis, M.P.; Herman, K.; Jabado, R.W.; Liu, K.M.; Marshall, A.; Romanov, E.; Kyne, P.M. (2021) [amended version of 2019 assessment]. "Cetorhinus maximus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T4292A194720078. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T4292A194720078.en. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  3. ^ Finucci, B.; Bineesh, K.K.; Cheok, J.; Cotton, C.F.; Dharmadi, Kulka, D.W.; Neat, F.C.; Pacoureau, N.; Rigby, C.L.; Tanaka, S.; Walker, T.I. (2020). "Centrophorus granulosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T162293947A2897883. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T162293947A2897883.en. Retrieved 11 May 2024.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Walker, T.I.; Rigby, C.L.; Pacoureau, N.; Ellis, J.; Kulka, D.W.; Chiaramonte, G.E.; Herman, K. (2020). "Galeorhinus galeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T39352A2907336. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39352A2907336.en. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b [1] American Cancer Society. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  6. ^ a b Gupta P, K Singhal, AK Jangra, V Nautiyal and A Pandey (2012) "Shark liver oil: A review" Archived 2013-01-23 at the Wayback Machine Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 1 (2): 1-15.
  7. ^ a b Shark liver oil WebMD. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  8. ^ PE-shark liver oil-cocoa buttr Rect WebMD. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  9. ^ Hemorrhoidal suppository Daily Med. Retrieved 28 March 2013.