TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-level mercury, omega-3 index and neurobehavioral outcomes in an adult US coastal population
AU - Vacchi-Suzzi, Caterina
AU - Karimi, Roxanne
AU - Kruse, Danielle
AU - Silbernagel, Susan M.
AU - Levine, Keith E.
AU - Rohlman, Diane S.
AU - Meliker, Jaymie R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - Background: Neurodevelopmental effects of omega-3 fatty acids and mercury from fish consumption have been characterized in children. In contrast, neurobehavioral outcomes associated with fish are not well studied in adults. Objective: This study of avid seafood consumers on Long Island (NY, USA) sought to define associations between mercury, seafood consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and neurobehavioral outcomes. Methods: A computer-based test system was used to assess neurobehavioral function. Blood total Hg (Hg) and omega-3 index were measured in 199 adult avid seafood eaters, who also completed the neurobehavioral assessment and an extensive food and fish frequency and demographic questionnaire. Results: For most of the outcomes considered, neither Hg nor omega-3 index was associated with neurobehavioral outcomes after adjustment for key confounding variables. Fish consumption, however, was associated with decreased odds of both self-reported fatigue (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72, 1.01) and a constellation of neurologic symptoms (OR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.66, 0.96). Conclusions: Results from our study provide little evidence that omega-3 fatty acids or Hg is associated with cognitive function in adult avid seafood consumers. Larger studies are needed to confirm our finding of associations between fish consumption and decreased self-reported fatigue and neurologic impairment.
AB - Background: Neurodevelopmental effects of omega-3 fatty acids and mercury from fish consumption have been characterized in children. In contrast, neurobehavioral outcomes associated with fish are not well studied in adults. Objective: This study of avid seafood consumers on Long Island (NY, USA) sought to define associations between mercury, seafood consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and neurobehavioral outcomes. Methods: A computer-based test system was used to assess neurobehavioral function. Blood total Hg (Hg) and omega-3 index were measured in 199 adult avid seafood eaters, who also completed the neurobehavioral assessment and an extensive food and fish frequency and demographic questionnaire. Results: For most of the outcomes considered, neither Hg nor omega-3 index was associated with neurobehavioral outcomes after adjustment for key confounding variables. Fish consumption, however, was associated with decreased odds of both self-reported fatigue (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72, 1.01) and a constellation of neurologic symptoms (OR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.66, 0.96). Conclusions: Results from our study provide little evidence that omega-3 fatty acids or Hg is associated with cognitive function in adult avid seafood consumers. Larger studies are needed to confirm our finding of associations between fish consumption and decreased self-reported fatigue and neurologic impairment.
KW - Mercury
KW - Methylmercury
KW - Neurobehavioral test
KW - Neurological test
KW - Omega-3
KW - n-3 fatty acids
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U2 - 10.1007/s00394-015-0890-5
DO - 10.1007/s00394-015-0890-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 25832490
AN - SCOPUS:84959104707
SN - 1436-6207
VL - 55
SP - 699
EP - 711
JO - European Journal of Nutrition
JF - European Journal of Nutrition
IS - 2
ER -