From: Latimes.com, February, 2004

During a recent study at Cardiff University in Wales, 31 patients awaiting knee replacement surgery were divided into two groups and half were given high strength cod-liver oil in pill form for 10 to 12 weeks before their operation and the other half given a placebo.

The researchers found that 86% of the patients given the cod-liver oil produced less of a cartilage-eroding enzyme or none of the enzyme and also found that there were reduced levels of other enzymes that cause pain. Thus, the pill’s potential to slow the deterioration of knee cartilage might help patients avoid conditions such as osteoarthritis as well as reduce pain.