Study Quells Fears of Mercury in Seafood

Recent research results show that previous concerns about mercury levels in seafood might have been unfounded, particularly when it comes to recommendations for pregnant women. According to research recently conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Bristol, women who regularly ate seafood during pregnancy prompted beneficial development in their children while women who had lower seafood intake faced more developmental problems in their children. The results of this study will be published in the Feb. 17 issue of The Lancet (Vol. 369, No. 9561; http://www.thelancet.com).

As the researchers note in the article, seafood is a primary source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for optimum neural development. But, they write, American women have been advised by some groups to limit seafood intake during pregnancy to 340 grams per week. They set to evaluate the possible benefits and hazards to a childs development of different levels of maternal seafood intake during pregnancy.

The study involved having 11,875 pregnant women complete a food-frequency questionnaire to determine seafood consumption at 32 weeks gestation. They then assessed the developmental, behavioral and cognitive outcomes of the children from age 6 months to 8 years in women consuming none, some (1 to 340 grams per week), and those consuming more than 340 grams per week.

The results showed that maternal seafood intake during pregnancy of less than 340 grams per week was associated with increased risk of their children being in the lowest quartile for verbal intelligence quotient. Low maternal seafood intake was also associated with increased risk of reduced prosocial behavior, fine motor skills, communication and social development. The researchers discovered beneficial effects on child development with maternal seafood intakes of more than 340 grams per week, leading them to conclude that advice to limit seafood consumption could actually be detrimental.

To view the complete article, see http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607602773/fulltext.