Cod Liver Oil in Pregnancy — Is It Safe? UK Guide

Posted June 2026 | Written by Chris Jones, Social Media Manager at Nutrivity, with 7+ years in the supplement industry.

Cod Liver Oil in Pregnancy — Is It Safe?

This is one of those questions where it is important to give a straight answer rather than a hedge: no, cod liver oil is not recommended during pregnancy, and the standard UK advice is to avoid it. The reason is not the omega-3 — that part is fine — but the vitamin A it naturally contains, which carries a well-established risk to a developing baby when taken in supplement form. This guide explains exactly why, what the official UK guidance says, and the safer way to get the omega-3 benefits that are genuinely valuable in pregnancy.

For the wider background on what cod liver oil is and how it differs from plain fish oil, see our cod liver oil vs fish oil guide.

The Short Answer

Pregnant women, and women trying to conceive, should not take cod liver oil supplements. This is the position taken by the NHS and reflected by UK food safety guidance, and it is based on the vitamin A (retinol) content of cod liver oil. It is one of the clearest pieces of nutritional safety advice in pregnancy precisely because the risk is well documented. If you are pregnant and currently taking cod liver oil, stop and speak to your midwife or GP, who can advise on a suitable alternative for omega-3 if you want one.

Why Vitamin A Is the Problem

Cod liver oil is nutritionally distinctive because, unlike standard fish oil, it naturally contains significant amounts of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D as well as omega-3. In everyday life that is part of its appeal. In pregnancy it is the catch. High intakes of preformed vitamin A (retinol) — the form found in cod liver oil — are linked to an increased risk of birth defects, particularly affecting the baby’s development in the early weeks. This is described as a teratogenic risk, meaning a substance that can interfere with normal foetal development.

Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, it accumulates in the body rather than being flushed out like water-soluble vitamins, which is why sustained intake above safe levels is the concern. This is also why UK guidance advises pregnant women to avoid not just cod liver oil but also vitamin A supplements and very high-vitamin-A foods such as liver and liver products. The issue is specific to preformed retinol; it does not apply in the same way to beta-carotene from fruit and vegetables, which the body converts to vitamin A in a regulated manner.

What About the Omega-3 and Vitamin D?

It is worth being clear that the omega-3 fatty acids and the vitamin D in cod liver oil are not the problem — both are beneficial in pregnancy. DHA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, contributes to the normal development of the baby’s brain and eyes, and vitamin D is routinely recommended in pregnancy in the UK. The difficulty is that cod liver oil delivers these alongside a dose of retinol that you do not want during pregnancy. You cannot separate the components in a cod liver oil capsule, so the sensible move is to get the omega-3 and vitamin D from sources that do not carry the vitamin A load.

The Safer Way to Get Omega-3 in Pregnancy

If you want to supplement omega-3 during pregnancy — and there is good evidence for the value of DHA for the baby’s brain and eye development — the appropriate choice is a dedicated pregnancy omega-3 product made from fish body oil, which provides EPA and DHA without the vitamin A found in liver-derived oil. These are formulated specifically so that you get the omega-3 benefit without the retinol risk. Many pregnancy-specific supplements are designed around this exact distinction.

You can also boost omega-3 through diet. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel provide EPA and DHA, and UK guidance allows oily fish in pregnancy within recommended weekly limits (with some specific fish to limit or avoid, which your midwife can outline). For vitamin D, the UK recommends a daily supplement for pregnant and breastfeeding women, easily met with a standalone vitamin D product rather than cod liver oil. Always run any supplement past your midwife or GP first, so it fits with your overall pregnancy care.

Breastfeeding and Trying to Conceive

The caution extends a little beyond pregnancy itself. If you are trying to conceive, it is wise to apply the same approach, since the most vulnerable window for vitamin A is very early — often before a pregnancy is confirmed. While breastfeeding, discuss any cod liver oil use with your health visitor or GP rather than assuming it is fine; the priorities shift again, and a pregnancy-style omega-3 or dietary sources are usually the simpler, lower-risk way to top up. The general principle throughout this period is to get omega-3 and vitamin D from sources that keep preformed vitamin A within safe limits.

What If I Have Already Taken Some?

If you have taken cod liver oil before realising it is not recommended, try not to panic. A small number of standard doses is very different from sustained high intake, and the sensible step is simply to stop and mention it to your midwife or GP at your next contact, who can reassure you and check nothing else needs adjusting. What matters most is not continuing it for the rest of the pregnancy. Bring along the product label if you can, so they can see the exact vitamin A content per dose.

What UK Guidance Says — Beyond Just Cod Liver Oil

The cod liver oil advice sits within a broader set of UK recommendations about vitamin A in pregnancy that are worth knowing, because they affect more than one product. Pregnant women are advised to avoid vitamin A supplements, including cod liver oil, and to avoid foods very high in preformed vitamin A — most notably liver and liver products such as pâté. At the same time, UK guidance positively recommends a daily vitamin D supplement throughout pregnancy, and allows oily fish within weekly limits as a good source of omega-3 (with certain fish to limit because of other contaminants, which your midwife can detail). The thread running through all of this is the same: get vitamin D and omega-3 in, keep preformed vitamin A within safe limits, and treat liver-derived products like cod liver oil as off the menu for now.

Glucosamine in Pregnancy Too

It is worth a specific word for anyone who reaches cod liver oil through a combined joint supplement. A product that pairs cod liver oil with glucosamine is doubly unsuitable in pregnancy: not only does the cod liver oil component carry the vitamin A issue, but glucosamine itself is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, simply because there is not enough safety data to support its use in this period. So a combined cod liver oil and glucosamine supplement should not be used in pregnancy on both counts. If you have been taking one for joint comfort and discover you are pregnant, stop and raise it with your midwife or GP, who can suggest pregnancy-appropriate ways to manage joint aches that do not rely on either ingredient.

Planning Ahead and Reviewing Your Supplements

If you are planning a pregnancy, a useful early step is to review everything you take — supplements, multivitamins, and skincare — for vitamin A. Some multivitamins contain retinol, and some skincare uses vitamin A derivatives, so cod liver oil is rarely the only source in someone’s routine. Pregnancy-specific multivitamins are formulated to provide what you need (such as folic acid and vitamin D) without excess vitamin A, which is exactly why switching to one is often recommended. Bringing your current products to a preconception or early-pregnancy appointment lets your midwife or GP do this review with you. The goal is not to make you anxious about a single capsule, but to make sure your overall routine fits the simple principle of adequate vitamin D and omega-3 without excess preformed vitamin A.

A Word on Joint and Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy

Many people take cod liver oil and glucosamine for joint comfort, so it is worth addressing the joint aches that are common in pregnancy itself. Pregnancy-related joint, back, and pelvic pain are very common as the body adapts and ligaments soften, but the answer is not the joint supplements you might use otherwise — neither cod liver oil nor glucosamine is suitable during this period. Instead, this is something to raise with your midwife or GP, who can point you toward appropriate support such as physiotherapy, advice on posture and gentle activity, supportive measures, and, where suitable, pain relief that is considered safe in pregnancy under their guidance. The key message is to manage pregnancy aches through pregnancy-appropriate routes rather than reaching for supplements that are not recommended while you are expecting.

The Bottom Line

Cod liver oil should be avoided in pregnancy and when trying to conceive, because its naturally high vitamin A (retinol) content carries an established risk to the developing baby — even though its omega-3 and vitamin D are themselves beneficial. The right approach is to get omega-3 from a dedicated pregnancy fish-oil product or oily fish, take a standalone vitamin D supplement as UK guidance recommends, and avoid preformed vitamin A from cod liver oil, vitamin A supplements, and liver. Above all, run your supplement plan past your midwife or GP. For more on how cod liver oil’s nutrient profile differs from plain fish oil, see our cod liver oil benefits guide and our overview of cod liver oil and glucosamine side effects.

Related Reading

• Cod Liver Oil vs Fish Oil — What’s the Difference?
• Cod Liver Oil Benefits UK
• Cod Liver Oil Dosage UK
• Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine Side Effects UK
• What Is Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine? Benefits and UK Guide

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Food supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Cod liver oil is not recommended in pregnancy due to its vitamin A content. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive, always consult your midwife or GP before taking any supplement.

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