 News
15th February 2007
Babies benefit from fish in pregnancy
Mothers who eat seafood during pregnancy could be giving their child
long lasting benefits.
A UK study published in the Lancet, says that children whose mothers
ate a lot of fish and seafood during pregnancy, had better communication
and social skills at seven years old.
The findings may go some way to dispel the current fear of toxicity from
eating fish during pregnancy.
Current guidelines from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advise pregnant
women to avoid some fish such as shark and marlin, or even very large
amounts of tuna, because these fish may have some level of mercury which
could be damaging to the developing foetus.
However, it is also advised that pregnant women eat 2 portions of oily
fish a week, such as salmon, sardines or pilchards, as these contain the
most widely available source of brain boosting omega-3 fatty acids.
Robert Grimble, professor of nutrition at the University
of Southampton said, "This idea of fish being toxic has been around for
a long time but this study seems to be saying that is a minor problem
compared with the benefits you get from fish.
"Studies have shown improvement in brain ability and reduction
in antisocial behaviour."
An earlier study by the Avon Longitudinal Study Group has
already shown the brain boosting and social skills power of omega-3 fatty
acids contained in fish - particularly oily fish. However, they only studied
the effects up to the age of three or four.
This new study by researchers from Bristol University and
the US National Institutes of Health questioned 11,875 pregnant women
on their fish and seafood consumption then looked at social and communication
skills as well as hand-eye co-ordination and total IQ in the children
up to the age of eight years.
Professor Jean Golding, emeritus professor of paediatric
and perinatal Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, and head of the
study, said, "The findings we had previously were very much earlier in
a child's life so it was quite possible the effect would have worn off.
"But here we have very convincing findings up to the age
of seven or eight."
She says pregnant women should follow FSA guidelines, which
also recommend eating no more than 2 large tuna steaks or 4 medium cans
of tuna a week.
Where to next?
|
