Shark Liver Oil Drug Interactions, Uses, Side Effects & More

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Shark Liver Oil

0 medications have a known interaction with Shark Liver Oil, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Shark Liver Oil. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Shark Liver Oil combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Monograph

Shark Liver Oil: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Shark liver oil is taken from the livers of deep-sea sharks and is rich in compounds called alkylglycerols and squalene. People use it for immune support, skin healing, and other conditions, but strong human evidence is largely lacking. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially since sustainability and contamination are concerns.

Part used: Liver oil from deep-sea sharks
Common forms: Capsules, softgels, liquid oil, topical creams and ointments

People commonly use it for

Immune support
Skin conditions and wound healing
Cancer support (unproven)
Hemorrhoid relief (topical)
Cold and flu prevention
General wellness tonic

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally tolerated short-term but human safety data are limited and product quality varies.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Shark liver oil is an oil extracted from the livers of certain deep-sea sharks. These sharks live in cold, deep ocean waters, and their large livers store a lot of oil that helps them float. The oil has been used for many years in folk medicine, especially in Scandinavian fishing communities.

The oil contains natural fats including alkylglycerols, squalene, and omega-3 fatty acids. Today it is sold as capsules, softgels, liquids, and skin creams. People take it hoping to support the immune system, heal the skin, and improve overall health.

How it works

The two compounds most studied in shark liver oil are alkylglycerols and squalene. Alkylglycerols are naturally found in human bone marrow, breast milk, and the spleen, and lab studies suggest they may play a role in immune cell activity.

Squalene is a fatty substance that the body also makes on its own. It is used in skin care because it can moisturize and may help protect skin. Some researchers think these compounds may support healing or immune defense, but most of this work comes from laboratory and animal research, not large human trials.

Because the proposed mechanisms have not been clearly proven in people, it is best to view these explanations as theories rather than established facts.

Effectiveness

Does Shark Liver Oil work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 6 uses evaluated

6 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Shark Liver Oil, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 6 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Cancer