Maternal fish consumption and children's development

Abstract

Joseph Hibbeln and colleagues1Hibbeln JR Davis JM Steer C et al.Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study.Lancet. 2007; 369: 578-585Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (761) Google Scholar conclude that weekly consumption of more than 340 g of seafood during pregnancy is beneficial to the neurodevelopment of the child and that less consumption might even be harmful. Additionally, they state that the benefits of consuming this amount of seafood in pregnancy outweigh the risks of toxic effects from trace elements. These findings are likely to lead to women increasing their seafood consumption during pregnancy. It is therefore vital that the issue of listeriosis during pregnancy is discussed in the context of these findings.Listeriosis is usually caused by infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable and account for 35% of cases of listeriosis globally.2Drevets DA Leenen PJ Greenfield RA Invasion of the central nervous system by intracellular bacteria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004; 17: 323-347Crossref PubMed Scopus (176) Google Scholar The consequences of listeriosis during pregnancy can be devastating, with a mortality rate of more than 20% in the fetus or neonate and with long-term sequelae after neonatal infection.3Lorber B Listeria monocytogenes.in: Mandel GL Bennett JE Dolin R Principles and practice of infectious diseases. Churchill-Livingstone, Philadelphia2005: 2478-2484Google ScholarListeria species can contaminate seafood in the natural setting or during processing; therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women completely avoid consumption of raw seafood (shellfish, sushi, sashimi), ready-to-eat smoked seafood, and ready-to-eat cooked peeled prawns.4Food Standards Australia New ZealandListeria and food. Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Canberra2007http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/Listeria.pdfGoogle Scholar, 5Centers for Disease Control and PreventionListeriosis. CDC, Atlanta2005http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/listeriosis_g.htm#reduceriskGoogle Scholar Thus, it is essential that the findings of the study by Hibbeln and colleagues are not seen as a “green light” for the consumption of all seafood during pregnancy. Any recommendations arising from their study should be qualified with the statement that certain seafood must still be avoided in pregnancy; otherwise, there may be inadvertent and tragic cases of listeriosis in unsuspecting and well-intentioned pregnant women.I declare that I have no conflict of interest. Joseph Hibbeln and colleagues1Hibbeln JR Davis JM Steer C et al.Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study.Lancet. 2007; 369: 578-585Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (761) Google Scholar conclude that weekly consumption of more than 340 g of seafood during pregnancy is beneficial to the neurodevelopment of the child and that less consumption might even be harmful. Additionally, they state that the benefits of consuming this amount of seafood in pregnancy outweigh the risks of toxic effects from trace elements. These findings are likely to lead to women increasing their seafood consumption during pregnancy. It is therefore vital that the issue of listeriosis during pregnancy is discussed in the context of these findings. Listeriosis is usually caused by infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable and account for 35% of cases of listeriosis globally.2Drevets DA Leenen PJ Greenfield RA Invasion of the central nervous system by intracellular bacteria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004; 17: 323-347Crossref PubMed Scopus (176) Google Scholar The consequences of listeriosis during pregnancy can be devastating, with a mortality rate of more than 20% in the fetus or neonate and with long-term sequelae after neonatal infection.3Lorber B Listeria monocytogenes.in: Mandel GL Bennett JE Dolin R Principles and practice of infectious diseases. Churchill-Livingstone, Philadelphia2005: 2478-2484Google Scholar Listeria species can contaminate seafood in the natural setting or during processing; therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women completely avoid consumption of raw seafood (shellfish, sushi, sashimi), ready-to-eat smoked seafood, and ready-to-eat cooked peeled prawns.4Food Standards Australia New ZealandListeria and food. Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Canberra2007http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/Listeria.pdfGoogle Scholar, 5Centers for Disease Control and PreventionListeriosis. CDC, Atlanta2005http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/listeriosis_g.htm#reduceriskGoogle Scholar Thus, it is essential that the findings of the study by Hibbeln and colleagues are not seen as a “green light” for the consumption of all seafood during pregnancy. Any recommendations arising from their study should be qualified with the statement that certain seafood must still be avoided in pregnancy; otherwise, there may be inadvertent and tragic cases of listeriosis in unsuspecting and well-intentioned pregnant women. I declare that I have no conflict of interest.