No known drug interactions for the matched ingredients — not a guarantee none exist. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Squalene Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Cardiovascular Research

Softgel Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
No known interaction
The interaction bottom line No known interaction

Squalene is a dietary supplement by Cardiovascular Research with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for immune support, skin conditions and wound healing, cancer support (unproven).We don’t currently list a known drug interaction for its mapped ingredients — but that doesn’t guarantee none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Squalene by Cardiovascular Research

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 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: squalene, a naturally occurring compound sourced from shark liver oil. The softgel capsule also contains gelatin, glycerin, and purified water as inactive ingredients to hold and deliver the squalene.

Does it work?

Not established
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
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Shark Liver Oil's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Immune support and general wellness.
  • We looked for evidence on: Common cold, Influenza, Wound healing, Immune function, Cold prevention, Flu prevention.
  • The closest evidence on file: Shark Liver Oil is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Common cold (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Shark Liver Oil is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Influenza, Wound healing.

We don't have established evidence for squalene's effectiveness. The data we hold rates its use for cancer, cold, influenza, chemotherapy-related low white blood cells (chemotherapy-induced leukopenia), and radiation-induced nausea as having insufficient reliable evidence.

In plain terms: we can't say whether it works for any of these uses based on the science available to us.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Shark Liver Oil

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 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Squalene is generally well tolerated over the short term, but human safety data are limited and product quality varies. One case of severe liver inflammation (hepatitis) has been reported after daily use for two weeks, and higher doses (15 grams daily) have raised total cholesterol and lowered HDL cholesterol in healthy adults — changes that reversed after stopping the product.

There's also a risk of aspiration and lipoid pneumonia (a lung condition from oil inhalation). The safety data advise against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Shark Liver Oil

Meds to double-check

No known interactions
Known Interaction Concern · database check
No known interactions

No medication interactions are currently documented for the matched ingredients — that isn't a guarantee none exist.

Why this rating?
  • None of the 1 matched ingredient has a documented medication interaction on file.

No interactions are documented in our data for the ingredient we could check. That said, always confirm your exact medications on this page — the absence of documented interactions isn't a guarantee none exist.

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. No medication interactions are currently documented, and safety information is well characterized.

Squalene carries limited safety evidence and no established effectiveness for the conditions it's marketed for. If you're pregnant, nursing, or have liver concerns or a history of aspiration, this isn't the right choice.

Talk to your pharmacist about whether this fits your health picture before you start.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2023.

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 Squalene, straight from the product label.

Brand Cardiovascular Research
Barcode (UPC) 787790945987
Net contents 60 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2023
DSLD ID 283463
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses 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 Squalene by Cardiovascular Research, 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)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
787790945987
IngredientAmount% DV
Total Fat1 Gram(s)1%
Calories10 Calorie(s)--
Squalene1000 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Purified

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Squalene from shark liver oil is extracted from the shark speices, Sominosus microcephalus and Lamna nasus. The rich source of natural deep sea shark liver oil is standardized to contain alkylglycerols and contains no yeast, wheat, milk or milk derivatives, lactose, sugar, preservatives, soy, artificial color or flavor.

Natural Deep Sea Shark Liver Oil

Formulation

The rich source of natural source of natural deep sea shark liver oil is standardized to contain alkylglycerols and contains no yeast, wheat, milk or milk derivatives, lactose, sugar, preservatives, soy, artificial color or flavor.

Gluten free, Casein free

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions Take one softgel, or more as directed by a physician.

Storage

Store in a cool dry place to ensure freshness.

General Statements

Ecological Formulas

Precautions

Contains: Fish

See for yourself

Squalene by Cardiovascular Research label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Squalene by Cardiovascular Research

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Squalene

No known
interactions
1000 mg per serving Form: Shark Liver Oil

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...

Squalene monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Purified. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Squalene by Cardiovascular Research Drug Interactions

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for the mapped ingredients in Squalene. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining a supplement with your medications.

The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Squalene, from the product label.

Cardiovascular Research

See all Cardiovascular Research products
Name
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH LTD.
Street Address
1061-B SHARY CIRCLE
City
CONCORD
State
CA
ZipCode
94518
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Squalene by Cardiovascular Research: Common Questions

Does Squalene by Cardiovascular Research interact with any medications?
We do not currently list a known interaction for the mapped ingredients in Squalene. This does not guarantee none exist, so confirm with your pharmacist.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Squalene contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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 squalene if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advise against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because there isn't enough information to know it's safe. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what's right for you.
Does squalene really help with cancer or the common cold?
We don't have reliable evidence that it does. The evidence for cancer, cold, flu, and related conditions is rated insufficient, which means we can't say one way or the other based on the science available.
Are there any side effects I should know about?
One case of severe liver inflammation has been reported after daily use for two weeks. Higher doses can also raise cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol, though those changes reversed when the product was stopped. There's also a reported risk of lung problems from aspiration. Human safety data are limited overall.
What exactly is squalene?
It's a naturally occurring compound sourced from shark liver oil. It's the active ingredient in this product.

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

Not sure if Squalene is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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.

Squalene label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Squalene'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 6 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 →

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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