Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

Softgel Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A is a dietary supplement by NOW with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for immune support, skin conditions and wound healing, cancer support (unproven).Based on those ingredients, 387 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Vitamin A. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains 2 active ingredients: shark liver oil and vitamin A. Shark liver oil is derived from shark liver tissue and has been studied for various health claims, though evidence is limited.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immune function, and skin health. The softgel capsule itself is an inactive ingredient that holds these actives together.

Does it work?

Strong evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Strong

Clinical evidence supports at least one of this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Nutritional support with vitamin A.
  • We looked for evidence on: Vitamin A deficiency, Night vision, Acne, Aging skin, Wrinkled skin, Wound healing — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Vitamin A is rated "Effective" for Vitamin A deficiency (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Vitamin A is rated "Possibly Effective" for Aging skin, Measles, Night vision, Wrinkled skin.
  • Also on file: Shark Liver Oil is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Common cold, Influenza.

The evidence base differs between the two ingredients here. Vitamin A is effective for vitamin A deficiency and possibly effective for oral leukoplakia, aging skin, measles, ulcerative colitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

For shark liver oil, the data we hold shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate its effectiveness for cancer, chemotherapy-induced low white blood cells, common cold, influenza, and radiation-induced nausea and vomiting. If you're considering this product for a specific condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether the evidence supports its use.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Vitamin A is generally well tolerated at recommended doses, but high doses build up in your body and can become toxic — causing liver damage, headache, vision problems, and skin issues. At very high doses it can be serious.

Shark Liver Oil is generally tolerated short-term, though human safety data are limited and product quality varies. One reported case linked it to severe liver inflammation.

At high doses, shark liver oil raised cholesterol levels in one study; these changes reversed when it was stopped. Rarely, both ingredients have been associated with aspiration and lipoid pneumonia.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Vitamin A.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 388 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take retinoids or vitamin A derivatives (for acne or aging skin) — Major risk of toxic vitamin A buildup. At Moderate severity: warfarin or other blood thinners, tetracycline antibiotics like doxycycline, or any drugs that can damage your liver.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with clinical evidence supporting its stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product combines two ingredients with limited to modest evidence. Vitamin A works for deficiency and may help a few other conditions; shark liver oil lacks strong evidence for most claims studied.

If you're already taking retinoid acne or skin medications, blood thinners, tetracycline antibiotics, or drugs that stress your liver, you'll need to clear this with your doctor or pharmacist first — the vitamin A content creates real risks. At recommended doses, vitamin A is generally safe, but high doses become toxic over time.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 1, 2012.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739003256
Net contents 120 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 1, 2012
DSLD ID 13756
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
UPC/BARCODE
733739003256
IngredientAmount% DV
Shark Liver Oil400 mg--
Vitamin A10000 IU200%

Other ingredients: Softgel Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Precautions

Caution: Pregnant or lactating women should seek the advice of a physician before using this product.

Do Not Eat Freshness Packet. Keep in Bottle.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

General Statements

Please Recycle.

ACTUAL SIZE

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

Made in the U.S.A.

The sharks used in this product are harvested for food purposes, with the liver oil being a by-product.

The alkylglycerol value is not measured.

Shark Liver Oil is a dietary supplement that has been used for centuries by seafaring individuals. Scandinavian fishermen have used it since the 16th century and it is mentioned in the early writings of the Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Chinese and Japanese peoples. Shark Liver Oil is a rich source of a variety of nutrients, including Vitamins A, D and E, as well as the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Formula

• 400 mg of Shark Liver Oil • 10,000 IU of Vitamin A

Contains fish (shark).

The shark liver oil used in this softgel is concentrated for Vitamin A content.

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

GMP QUALITY ASSURED

Formulation

Contains no sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.

Brand IP Statement(s)

NOW(R) Shark Liver Oil is derived by steam distillation and is formulated in a preservative-free softgel.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

SUGGESTED USAGE: As a dietary supplement, take 1 softgel daily with a meal. Consider taking this product in combination with NOW(R) Tru-E BioComplex(TM), Zinc and Vitamin C.

General

CODE 0325 V3

See for yourself

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Shark Liver Oil

No known
interactions
400 mg per serving

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 supp...

Shark Liver Oil monograph & interactions

Vitamin A

Interacts with
387 drugs
10000 IU per serving Form: Retinyl Palmitate, Shark Liver Oil

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient important for vision, skin, immune function, and growth. Most people get enough from a balanced diet, and supplemen...

Vitamin A monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Softgel Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
387Drugs
9 Major 378 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Vitamin A 387

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Vitamin A4 drug types · 387 drugs

Retinoids

Concomitant use of retinoids with vitamin A supplements might produce supratherapeutic vitamin A levels.
Retinoids, which are vitamin A derivatives, could have additive toxic effects when taken with vitamin A supplements.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Hepatotoxic Drugs

Theoretically, taking high doses of vitamin A in combination with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver disease.
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) is the highest level of intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects. Doses of vitamin A above the UL can cause hepatotoxicity, ranging from elevated liver enzymes to liver failure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence C
Tetracycline Antibiotics

Theoretically, taking tetracycline antibiotics with high doses of vitamin A can increase the risk of pseudotumor cerebri.
Benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) can occur with tetracyclines and with acute or chronic vitamin A toxicity. Case reports suggest that taking tetracyclines and vitamin A concurrently can increase the risk of this condition. Avoid high doses of vitamin A in people taking tetracyclines chronically.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, high doses of vitamin A could increase the risk of bleeding with warfarin.
Vitamin A toxicity is associated with hemorrhage and hypoprothrombinemia, possibly due to vitamin K antagonism. Advise patients taking warfarin to avoid doses of vitamin A above the tolerable upper intake level of 10,000 IU/day for adults.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A, from the product label.

NOW

See all NOW products
Name
NOW FOODS
Street Address
395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd.
City
Bloomingdale
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
www.nowfoods.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW: Common Questions

Does Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A has a known interaction with 387 medications, including 9 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The vitamin A in this product carries conflicting data — it's rated both Likely Safe and Possibly Unsafe in pregnancy and lactation. High-dose vitamin A, especially as retinol, can cause birth defects. Since there's uncertainty, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you. For shark liver oil, there isn't enough safety data to know either way — ask your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What are the side effects I should watch for?
Vitamin A at high doses can cause fatigue, dry skin, skin rashes, hair loss, headache, and blurred vision. Very high doses can damage your liver and raise pressure in your skull. Shark Liver Oil can cause stomach upset and has rarely been linked to severe liver inflammation. Both ingredients have been associated with aspiration and a type of lung inflammation if inhaled.
Does shark liver oil actually work for colds or the flu?
The evidence we have is insufficient to rate shark liver oil for those uses. It's been studied for them, but the data aren't reliable enough to say whether it helps. Talk with your doctor if you're considering it for cold or flu prevention or treatment.
Does this product have any fillers?
The only inactive ingredient listed is the softgel capsule itself, which is the capsule material holding the active ingredients together.
Why does shark liver oil affect cholesterol?
One study showed that high doses of shark liver oil (15 grams daily) raised total cholesterol by about 41.5 mg/dL and lowered HDL cholesterol in healthy adults. Lower doses (1.5 grams daily) didn't significantly change cholesterol levels. The effect reversed after people stopped taking it, so the changes weren't permanent.
Is this safe to take long-term?
Shark Liver Oil is noted as generally tolerated short-term, but human safety data are limited and product quality varies — so long-term safety isn't well established. Vitamin A is safe at recommended amounts but toxic at high doses because it accumulates in your body. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how long you plan to take this and whether it's appropriate for you.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Shark Liver Oil Vitamin A's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 37 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Shark Liver Oil 6 references
  1. Lee JY, Lee KS, Kim TS, et al. Squalene-induced extrinsic lipoid pneumonia: serial radiologic findings in nine patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1999;23:730-5. PubMed
  2. Lee JS, Im JG, Song KS, et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: high-resolution CT findings. Eur Radiol 1999;9:287-91. PubMed
  3. Asnis DS, Saltzman HP, Melchert A. Shark oil pneumonia. An overlooked entity. Chest 1993;103:976-7.
  4. Deniau AL, Mosset P, Pédrono F, Mitre R, Le Bot D, Legrand AB. Multiple beneficial health effects of natural alkylglycerols from shark liver oil. Mar Drugs. 2010 Jul 19;8(7):2175-84. PubMed
  5. Kilincalp S, Deveci M, Basar O, Ekiz F, Coban S, Yuksel O. Shark liver oil: hidden dangers. Ann Hepatol. 2012 Sep-Oct;11(5):728-30. DOI
  6. Hamadate N, Matsumoto Y, Seto K, Yamamoto T, Yamaguchi H, Nakagawa T, Yamamoto E, Fukagawa M, Yazawa K. Vascular effects and safety of supplementation with shark liver oil in middle-aged and elderly males. Exp Ther Med. 2015 Aug;10(2):641-646. Epub 2015 J PubMed

See these in context on the Shark Liver Oil monograph →

Vitamin A 31 references
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Griffiths JK. The vitamin A paradox. J Pediatr 2000;137:604-7.. PubMed
  3. Hardman JG, Limbird LL, Molinoff PB, eds. Goodman and Gillman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
  4. Hansten PD, Horn JR. Drug Interactions Analysis and Management. Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics Inc., 1997 and updates.
  5. FDA Talk Paper. Vitamin A and birth defects (T95-56). Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD. October 6, 1995.
  6. Russell RM. The vitamin A spectrum: from deficiency to toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:878-84. PubMed
  7. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002.
  8. Feskanich D, Singh V, Willett WC, Colditz GA. Vitamin A intake and hip fractures among postmenopausal women. JAMA 2002;287:47-54. PubMed
  9. Melhus H, Michaelsson K, Kindmark A, et al. Excessive dietary intake of vitamin A is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk for hip fracture. Ann Intern Med 1998;129:770-8. PubMed
  10. Michaelsson K, Lithell H, Vessby B, Melhus H. Serum retinol levels and the risk of fracture. N Engl J Med 2003;348:287-94.. PubMed
  11. Botterweck AA, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. Vitamins, carotenoids, dietary fiber, and the risk of gastric carcinoma: results from a prospective study after 6.3 years of follow-up. Cancer 2000;88:737-48.. DOI
  12. Meyskens FL Jr, Graham V, Chvapil M, et al. A phase I trial of beta-all-trans-retinoic acid delivered via a collagen sponge and a cervical cap for mild or moderate intraepithelial cervical neoplasia. J Natl Cancer Inst 1983;71:921-5..
  13. Hathcock JN, Hattan DG, Jenkins MY, et al. Evaluation of vitamin A toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 1990;52:183-202.. PubMed
  14. Walters BN, Gubbay SS. Tetracycline and benign intracranial hypertension: report of five cases. Br Med J 1981;282:19-20.. PubMed
  15. Pearson MG, Littlewood SM, Bowden AN. Tetracycline and benign intracranial hypertension (letter). Br Med J 1981;282:568-9.. PubMed
  16. Azais-Braesco V, Pascal G. Vitamin A in pregnancy: requirements and safety limits. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:1325S-33S. PubMed
  17. Smedts HP, de Vries JH, Rakhshandehroo M, et al. High maternal vitamin E intake by diet or supplements is associated with congenital heart defects in the offspring. BJOG 2009;116:416-23. PubMed
  18. Grotto, I., Mimouni, M., Gdalevich, M., and Mimouni, D. Vitamin A supplementation and childhood morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections: a meta-analysis. J Pediatr 2003;142(3):297-304. PubMed
  19. Mahalanabis, D., Lahiri, M., Paul, D., Gupta, S., Gupta, A., Wahed, M. A., and Khaled, M. A. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of treatment with zinc or vitamin A in infants and young children with severe acute l
  20. Long, K. Z., Montoya, Y., Hertzmark, E., Santos, J. I., and Rosado, J. L. A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial of the effect of vitamin A and zinc supplementation on diarrheal disease and respiratory tract infections in children in Mexico City, Mex
  21. Fritz, H., Kennedy, D., Fergusson, D., Fernandes, R., Doucette, S., Cooley, K., Seely, A., Sagar, S., Wong, R., and Seely, D. Vitamin A and retinoid derivatives for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta analysis. PLoS.One. 2011;6(6):e21107. PubMed
  22. Mayo-Wilson, E., Imdad, A., Herzer, K., Yakoob, M. Y., and Bhutta, Z. A. Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011;343:d5094. PubMed
  23. Mazumder S, Taneja S, Bhatia K, Yoshida S, Kaur J, Dube B, Toteja GS, Bahl R, Fontaine O, Martines J, Bhandari N; Neovita India Study Group. Efficacy of early neonatal supplementation with vitamin A to reduce mortality in infancy in Haryana, India (Neovit
  24. Baineni R, Gulati R, Delhi CK. Vitamin A toxicity presenting as bone pain. Arch Dis Child. 2017;102(6):556-8. PubMed
  25. Darlow BA, Graham PJ, Rojas-Reyes MX. Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short- and long-term morbidity in very low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(8):CD000501. PubMed
  26. Haider BA, Sharma R, Bhutta ZA. Neonatal vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of mortality and morbidity in term neonates in low and middle income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD006980. PubMed
  27. Mohammad YM, Raslan IR, Al-Hussain FA. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Induced by Topical Application of Vitamin A. J Neuroophthalmol. 2016;36(4):412-3. PubMed
  28. Masnadi Shirazi K, Nikniaz Z, Masnadi Shirazi A, Rohani M. Vitamin A supplementation decreases disease activity index in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Dec;41:215-219. PubMed
  29. Ding Y, Hu P, Yang Y, et al. Impact of maternal daily oral low-dose vitamin A supplementation on the mother-infant pair: a randomised placebo-controlled trial in China. Nutrients 2021;13(7):2370. PubMed
  30. Knapik JJ, Hoedebecke SS. Vitamin A and bone fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Spec Oper Med 2021;21(2):100-7. PubMed
  31. Imdad A, Mayo-Wilson E, Haykal MR, et al. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022;3(3):CD008524. PubMed

See these in context on the Vitamin A monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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