Autism not linked to eating fish during pregnancy – large new study

The Conversation: Eating fish while you’re pregnant does not increase the chance that your child will be autistic or have autistic traits, our latest study shows. In fact, our study suggests that fish may be beneficial for the development of a healthy nervous system. A possible link between mercury exposure and autism has been the subject of much debate over the years. In pregnancy, mercury travels in the mother’s blood through the placenta and into the foetus, where it acts as a toxin, affecting the development of the foetal nervous system.

Mercury in Fish, Seafood May Be Linked to Increased ALS Risk

Dartmouth: There is an important association between eating fish and seafood with higher levels of mercury and being at a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a preliminary study released this week. Results of the study will be shared during the 69th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, which will be held in Boston April 22 to 28, 2017. “For most people, eating fish is part of a healthy diet,” said study author Elijah Stommel, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, a neurologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “But questions remain about the possible impact of mercury in fish.”

Fish consumption for pregnant women: what are the best choices?

FDA: Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued final advice regarding fish consumption. This advice is geared toward helping women who are pregnant or may become pregnant – as well as breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children – make informed choices when it comes to fish that are healthy and safe to eat. (This advice refers to fish and shellfish collectively as “fish.”)
To help these consumers more easily understand the types of fish to select, the agencies have created an easy-to-use reference chart that sorts 62 types of fish into three categories:

• “Best choices” (eat two to three servings a week)
• “Good choices” (eat one serving a week)
• “Fish to avoid”