Dan Dale Alexander

Dan Dale Alexander (July 18, 1919 – June 15, 1990) was an American nutrition influencer, famous for his eccentric beliefs about cod liver oil curing arthritis. He became known as the "Codfather".

Career

Alexander was born in Norwich, Connecticut. He was educated at Norwich Free Academy, Trinity College and Columbia University but failed to obtain any degree as he dropped out. Alexander had no medical credentials. He obtained a Ph.D. from an obscure diploma-mill which he received in the mail from St. Andrew's Ecumenical College, London. He sent a check for $100 to the college as appreciation for receiving it. The Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation complained that Alexander's statements were false advertising and unsupported by scientific evidence.

Stephen Barrett and Victor Herbert have written:

[Alexander] concluded that the basic cause of arthritis is "poorly lubricated joints" and that dietary oils (particularly cod liver oil) relieve arthritis by lubricating the joints. This theory is ludicrous. The lubricating fluid within the joints is not oil but a fluid that resembles blood plasma and is secreted by the tissue lining the joints. Moreover, dietary oils can't reach the joints intact because they are broken down into simple substances by the digestive process. There were 35 hearings in the case and 3,000 pages of testimony were received. In 1960, Alexander appealed the order without success.

Publications

Arthritis and Common Sense (1950) Good Health and Common Sense (1960) Healthy Hair and Common Sense (1969) The Common Cold and Common Sense (1971) Dry Skin and Common Sense (1978)