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| Fish in pregnancy 'benefits baby' | Fish in pregnancy 'benefits baby' |
| (3 days later) | |
| Eating fish and seafood during pregnancy has long-lasting benefits for the child, a UK study has suggested. | Eating fish and seafood during pregnancy has long-lasting benefits for the child, a UK study has suggested. |
| Children of mothers who had eaten lots of fish during pregnancy had better communication and social skills at seven years old, the Lancet paper says. | Children of mothers who had eaten lots of fish during pregnancy had better communication and social skills at seven years old, the Lancet paper says. |
| There are fears surrounding the possible toxic damage from eating fish during pregnancy. | There are fears surrounding the possible toxic damage from eating fish during pregnancy. |
| The Food Standards Agency advise that pregnant women should eat one or two portions of oily fish a week. | The Food Standards Agency advise that pregnant women should eat one or two portions of oily fish a week. |
| But they warn against eating certain types of fish, such as shark and marlin - or lots of tuna - because of the risks to the developing foetus associated with mercury. | But they warn against eating certain types of fish, such as shark and marlin - or lots of tuna - because of the risks to the developing foetus associated with mercury. |
| We have very convincing findings up to the age of seven or eight Professor Jean Golding, study leader | We have very convincing findings up to the age of seven or eight Professor Jean Golding, study leader |
| Previous research from the Avon Longitudinal Study Group has shown that omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish - particularly oily fish - are associated with boosting children's future brain power and social skills. | Previous research from the Avon Longitudinal Study Group has shown that omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish - particularly oily fish - are associated with boosting children's future brain power and social skills. |
| However, the team had only looked at the effects up until the age of three or four. | However, the team had only looked at the effects up until the age of three or four. |
| Behaviour | Behaviour |
| In the new analysis, researchers from Bristol University and the US National Institutes of Health questioned 11,875 pregnant women on their fish and seafood consumption. | In the new analysis, researchers from Bristol University and the US National Institutes of Health questioned 11,875 pregnant women on their fish and seafood consumption. |
| They 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. | They 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. |
| Socioeconomic factors were taken into account as well as information on the rest of the women's diet. | Socioeconomic factors were taken into account as well as information on the rest of the women's diet. |
| Eating less than 12oz (340g) of fish and seafood a week was associated with a 48% increased risk of children being in the lowest group for verbal intelligence. | Eating less than 12oz (340g) of fish and seafood a week was associated with a 48% increased risk of children being in the lowest group for verbal intelligence. |
| Low fish and seafood intake during pregnancy was also associated with increased risk of poorer behaviour, motor, communication and social development scores. | Low fish and seafood intake during pregnancy was also associated with increased risk of poorer behaviour, motor, communication and social development scores. |
| The lower the consumption of fish, the higher the risk of poorer scores on the neurodevelopmental tests, said the researchers. | The lower the consumption of fish, the higher the risk of poorer scores on the neurodevelopmental tests, said the researchers. |
| Professor Jean Golding, emeritus professor of paediatric and perinatal Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, and head of the study, said women should follow the FSA advice and eat a mixture of different types of fish. | Professor Jean Golding, emeritus professor of paediatric and perinatal Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, and head of the study, said women should follow the FSA advice and eat a mixture of different types of fish. |
| Oily fish, the most widely available source of omega-3 fatty acids, that women should eat include salmon, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. | Oily fish, the most widely available source of omega-3 fatty acids, that women should eat include salmon, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. |
| She 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. | She 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." | "But here we have very convincing findings up to the age of seven or eight." |
| Foetal exposure | Foetal exposure |
| Professor Robert Grimble, professor of nutrition at the University of Southampton said omega-3 fatty acids were very important for brain development. | Professor Robert Grimble, professor of nutrition at the University of Southampton said omega-3 fatty acids were very important for brain development. |
| "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." | "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." | "Studies have shown improvement in brain ability and reduction in antisocial behaviour." |
| He added that infants would get omega-3 through the placenta when they were in the womb but also through breast milk once they were born. | He added that infants would get omega-3 through the placenta when they were in the womb but also through breast milk once they were born. |
| In 2004 the US government issued advice to women on limiting their intake of overall seafood and fish to 340g per week to avoid foetal exposure to trace amounts of neurotoxins. | In 2004 the US government issued advice to women on limiting their intake of overall seafood and fish to 340g per week to avoid foetal exposure to trace amounts of neurotoxins. |
| In the UK, pregnant women are advised not to eat more than two tuna steaks a week (weighing about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna a week (with a drained weight of about 140g per can) because of the levels of mercury. | In the UK, pregnant women are advised not to eat more than two tuna steaks a week (weighing about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna a week (with a drained weight of about 140g per can) because of the levels of mercury. |
| Seeds such as flax, pumpkin and hemp are good sources of omega-3 for vegetarians, but large quantities need to be consumed to gain the same effect. |