Question
Does a two-year-old child need to take cod liver oil?
Answer
It is recommended to first check if the child has symptoms of vitamin A and D deficiency. If necessary, a serum test should be conducted at a hospital to confirm. Cod liver oil primarily contains vitamins A and D, used to treat these deficiencies such as dry eyes and rickets. If there are no such symptoms, it is not advisable to take it, as this may lead to vitamin A and D toxicity, possibly causing issues like increased intracranial pressure and liver damage. Therefore, it should not be used as a nutritional supplement. Even if there is a deficiency, it should be taken under a doctor’s guidance.