Low Fish Consumption Research Articles

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid dietary recommendations are moderately efficient in optimizing their status in healthy middle-aged subjects with low fish consumption: a cross-over study

Several dietary recommendations have been made for marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake; however, the effectiveness of these fatty acids has not been thoroughly examined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether public-aimed dietary recommendations for long-chain n-3 PUFA from oily fish or fish oil supplements are efficient in optimizing their status in red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets of healthy middle-aged subjects with low customary fish consumption. In a randomized, cross-over trial conducted over an 8-week period and separated by a 6-month washout period, 33 participants received an oily fish (salmon), providing 274 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + 671 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day, or a commercial fish oil supplement, providing 396 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA per day. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention period, and RBCs and platelets were used for analysis of fatty acids. After 8 weeks, there were significant increases in EPA and DHA content in RBCs and platelets with both salmon and fish oil capsules. The increase in EPA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with capsules, whereas the increase in DHA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with salmon. In spite of the quantitative and qualitative differences between n-3 fatty acid profiles in salmon and the fish oil supplement, the overall incorporation of these fatty acids into RBCs and platelets did not differ in our short-term study (P > .05). The sum of EPA + DHA significantly increased in both compartments following dietary recommendations for oily fish and fish oil supplements intake in middle-aged healthy subjects with low baseline long-chain n-3 PUFA status, although targeted values with optimal cardioprotective effect of more than 8% were not achieved.

Frequencies and demographic determinants of breastfeeding and DHA supplementation in a nationwide sample of mothers in Germany

German guidelines recommend breast milk as ideal for infant's nutrition, supporting exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months. Moreover, in mothers with insufficient fish intake, DHA status may be improved by supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. However, little is known on current rates of breastfeeding and DHA supplementation in Germany. The objective of this study was to analyse frequencies and demographic determinants of breastfeeding and DHA supplementation in Germany. Data derived from a nationwide consumer survey of 986 mothers with children between 5 and 36 months of age in Germany. 78.3% reported that they ever breastfed their children, and 55.6% of the mothers exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months. Mothers who did not breastfeed were less likely to be informed by their paediatrician or midwife and were more often not informed at all; 27.8% of mothers used DHA supplements during pregnancy, 16.8% postnatal. DHA supplementation was more common in women with a high versus a low fish intake. The social status was the major determinant of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity and also DHA supplementation. Breastfeeding initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Germany need to be improved. Professional counselling and support, with a focus on mothers from lower social classes, appears necessary to increase current rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusiveness, but also to ensure a sufficient supply with DHA in pregnant and lactating women, particularly in women with low fish consumption.

Vitamin D deficiency in Egyptian mothers and their neonates and possible related factors

Objective: To correlate vitamin D level in Egyptian mothers with that of their newborns, and examine risk factors related to maternal vitamin D deficiency.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the university teaching hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Serum 25(OH) D levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 135 pregnant women at ≥37 weeks’ gestation immediately before delivery and in cord blood of their newborns.Results: The levels of serum 25(OH) D were 32.6 ± 21.4 ng/ml in mothers and 16.7 ± 10 ng/ml in their newborns. Maternal vitamin D level was strongly correlated with that of the newborns (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001). Maternal vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and neonatal vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency were encountered in (40%, 28.9% and 60%, 32.6% respectively). Maternal vitamin D levels showed significant correlations with maternal body mass index (BMI; r = −0.201, p = 0.021), gestational age at delivery (r = 0.315, p ≤ 0.0001), fish consumption (r = 0.185, p = 0.032), educational level (r = 0.29, p = 0.001), and skin exposure (r = 0.247, p = 0.004).Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D levels strongly correlate with neonatal levels. Maternal vitamin D deficiency is a real problem in Egypt; this is generally related to high BMI, low fish consumption, low educational level, and limited skin exposure.

Maternal dioxin-dietary patterns, prenatal exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, and birth outcomes in a European Mother-Child Study (NewGeneris)

Background Diet is the main source of exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds for the general population. The diet of pregnant women may affect exposure of the foetus to environmental contaminants and influence foetal growth. Aim We investigated the association between maternal diet and biomarker assessed dioxin levels in maternal and cord blood with birth outcomes in a European prospective mother-child study (NewGeneris). Methods Plasma dioxin-like activity was estimated by the Dioxin-Responsive Chemically Activated LUciferase eXpression (DR-CALUX) bioassay in maternal (n=604) and cord (n=198) blood samples collected at delivery in Denmark, England, Greece, Norway and Spain. We used food frequency questionnaires to assess maternal diet and reduced rank regression to identify two dioxin-dietary patterns related to maternal and cord blood dioxin levels (in DR-CALUX TEQ pg/g lipid), respectively. The dioxin-dietary pattern scores described participants’ adherence to each of the two dietary patterns. Results The dioxin-dietary pattern score was positively correlated with dioxin (DR-CALUX) levels in cord blood (rho=0.35, p&lt;0.001) and was characterised by high maternal consumption of red and white meat, low-fat dairy and fast-food and low consumption of fatty fish and high-fat cheese. Dioxin-dietary pattern score in the upper tertile was associated with a reduction of half week in gestational age (95%CI:-1.0 to 0.0) and a non-significant reduction of 73 grams in birth weight (95%CI:-237 to 90) compared to the lower tertile, after adjustment for confounders. Similar negative adjusted associations with birth outcomes were observed for the dioxin-dietary score that was linked to dioxin (DR-CALUX) levels in maternal blood. Conclusions Maternal diet contributes to the exposure of the foetus to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. We provide evidence that a dioxin-rich diet may be related to reduced gestational age and birth weight, mediated by high prenatal exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.

Dietary Intake and Food Sources of EPA, DPA and DHA in Australian Children

Secondary analysis of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity survey was undertaken to assess the intake and food sources of EPA, DPA and DHA (excluding supplements) in 4,487 children aged 2-16years. An average of two 24-h dietary recalls was analysed for each child and food sources of EPA, DPA and DHA were assessed using the Australian nutrient composition database called AUSNUT 2007. Median (inter quartile range, IQR) for EPA, DPA and DHA intakes (mg/day) for 2-3, 4-8, 9-13, 14-16year were: EPA 5.3 (1.5-14), 6.7 (1.8-18), 8.7 (2.6-23), 9.8 (2.7-28) respectively; DPA 6.2 (2.2-14), 8.2 (3.3-18), 10.8 (4.3-24), 12.2 (5-29) respectively; and DHA 3.9 (0.6-24), 5.1 (0.9-26), 6.8 (1.1-27), 7.8 (1.5-33) respectively. Energy-adjusted intakes of EPA, DPA and DHA in children who ate fish were 7.5, 2 and 16-fold higher, respectively (P<0.001) compared to those who did not eat fish during the 2days of the survey. Intake of total long chain n-3 PUFA was compared to the energy adjusted suggested dietary target (SDT) for Australian children and 20% of children who ate fish during the 2days of the survey met the SDT. Fish and seafood products were the largest contributors to DHA (76%) and EPA (59%) intake, while meat, poultry and game contributed to 56% DPA. Meat consumption was 8.5 times greater than that for fish/seafood. Australian children do not consume the recommended amounts of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, which could be explained by low fish consumption.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Cancer Risk in Older Adults: Results from a Large German Prospective Cohort Study

Several observational studies assessed the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the risk of cancer but results were inconclusive. We measured 25(OH)D concentrations in a population-based cohort study of 9,949 men and women ages 50 to 74 years in Saarland, Germany. Comprehensively adjusted Cox regression models were applied to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between season-standardized 25(OH)D concentrations and total and site-specific cancer incidence. Overall, during a median of 8 years of follow-up, 873 subjects developed cancer; the most common being prostate (171), breast (137), lung (136), and colorectal (136) cancer. Low season-standardized 25(OH)D (<30, 35, 40, or 36 nmol/L in winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively) was neither significantly associated with total cancer incidence (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.93-1.30) nor with site-specific cancer incidence. However, a significantly increased overall cancer risk was observed for low 25(OH)D among men, nonobese subjects and subjects reporting low fish consumption and for high 25(OH)D in nonsmokers and nonobese subjects. Accordingly, restricted cubic splines to investigate dose-response relationships curves showed an inverse association of 25(OH)D levels and total cancer risk in men but not in women. 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly associated with overall cancer incidence in subgroups of this large cohort from Germany. No significant association was observed with site-specific cancers but this could be due to a limited statistical power for these endpoints. Further research should clarify whether and to what extent specific risk groups might profit from vitamin D supplementation.

Reasons Underlying Low Fish Consumption Where Availability Is Not an Issue. A Case Study in Brazil, One of the World's Largest Fish Producers

AbstractThis research investigated consumer behavior toward fish in a population with low fish consumption, using the theory of planned behavior. A questionnaire was run on a sample of 200 fish consumers in the city of Rio Grande (RS, Brazil). The low frequency of fish consumption could be due to different barriers: a perceived difficulty in buying, preparing, cooking, the belief that it is expensive or the unpleasant sensory properties linked to fish (fishbones or smell). But there can also be cultural parameters determining habits and low consumption. Exploring the individual factors that determine fish consumption makes it possible to develop public policy strategies. Results showed that attitudes toward eating fish, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control all had a significant positive influence on the intention to eat fish. Intention and attitude both proved significant determinants of fish consumption frequency, with attitude inversely correlated to fish consumption. Habit appeared as an important discriminating variable for the consumption of fish. The findings show that the sampled population could be potentially bigger consumers of fish with the correct promotion strategies. The Brazilian government should plan campaigns to promote the habit of eating fish that use the idea of health‐consciousness, target younger people and increase the appeals to give the family healthy food.Practical ApplicationsThe practical application of the theory of planned behavior as a tool to study a population with low fish consumption is that it aids the understanding of the factors and barriers influencing this behavior and facilitates planning for future changes in eating behavior.

PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs intake from fish caught in Polish fishing grounds in the Baltic Sea — Characterizing the risk for consumers

Fish and fishery products are among the primary sources of dietary exposure to dioxins. It is known that some fish species caught in the Baltic Sea contain elevated level of those compounds. Levels of dioxins and DL-PCBs in 236 Baltic fish samples (including 65 salmon, 14 sea trout, 63 sprat, 63 herring, 31 cod), and 20 cod liver samples from the Polish fishing grounds (the ICES zones 24–27), collected in the time frame of 2006–2011 as part of Polish monitoring survey have been used for risk assessment. To characterize potential health risk associated with dioxins intake, doses ingested in a single portion of fish and cod liver by adults (200g for fish, 125g for cod liver), and children (100g for fish, 25g for cod liver) were expressed as percent of Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) and Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI).Average dioxins intake estimated for fatty fish species was about 250% TWI for children, and about 170% TWI for adults, with maximum values of 436.3 and 288.0% TWI, respectively. Maximum exposure expressed as percent of PTMI was below 90% for children and below 60% in adults. For sprat and herring, mean dioxins intakes were lower, but still not at “safe” level: 100–150% TWI for children and about 70–100% for adults, with the maximum values of about 250 and 180%, respectively. Maximum exposure expressed as percent of PTMI was approximately 50% for children and 35% for adults.Intakes values calculated for practically “dioxin-free” cod are just theoretical because in calculating toxic equivalents (TEQs) an upperbound approach was applied, and vast majority of TEQs originates from the limit of quantification (LOQ) values of all non-quantified congeners.Frequent consumption of cod liver seems to be a health risk as, according to assumed scenario, dioxins intake of 100% PTMI for adults would be achieved by the 65th percentile, while for children by approximately 90th percentile of results.Serving sizes of salmonids, cod liver, and even sprat, and herring that lead to total dioxins intake equal to TWI, and PTMI were relatively small. Thus, one can easily exceed those toxicological reference values consuming above Baltic fish species available on the Polish market.Taking into account low fish consumption in Poland and, additionally, low share of Baltic fish in total consumption of marine fish, potential risk of high dioxins intake does not apply to general population. Occasionally elevated dioxins intake above TWI or PTMI is not necessarily related to health risk, because of uncertainty factors embedded in these toxicological reference values. However, some sub-populations in Poland that habitually consume fatty fish originating from the Baltic Sea or Baltic cod liver may be at an elevated health risk of potential consequences of chronic exposure to dioxins. Dietary recommendations based on risk-benefit analysis for consumers of such fish and fishery products from the Baltic Sea would be the most effective tool for risk management.

Structural equation modelling and word association as tools for a better understanding of low fish consumption

To develop a model and explain the whole set of relations involved in fish consumption behaviour in a population with low fish consumption (Brazil), an extended Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) questionnaire were applied and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the relationships between constructs. The questionnaires were run on a sample of 200 fish consumers in the city of Rio Grande (RS, Brazil). The results indicated a good fit for the proposed model. Attitude, subjective norms and past experience had direct effects on the intention to consume fish and this was directly associated with fish consumption behaviour. Attitude was inversely correlated to fish consumption. The extended constructs of “health” and “weight control” appeared to be good predictors of intention. A further aim was to analyse the cognitive perception of new fish products by applying word association methodology. Word association proved a useful method for gathering perceptions of new fish products and also helped to explain the results obtained with the structural equation model. The relationship between SEM and word association highlighted that this sample population was very concerned about health and weight control.

Vitamin B12 Intake and Status in Early Pregnancy among Urban South Indian Women

Aim: To evaluate the vitamin B₁₂ status of South Indian women in early pregnancy and its relationship with sociodemographic, anthropometry and dietary intake. Methods: Cross-sectional study among 366 pregnant urban South Indian women ≤14 weeks of gestation with outcome variables defined as low vitamin B₁₂ blood concentration (<150 pmol/l) and impaired vitamin B₁₂ status [low vitamin B₁₂ plus elevated methylmalonic acid (MMA) >0.26 µmol/l)]. Results: Low plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration was observed in 51.1% of the women, while 42.4% had impaired B₁₂ status. Elevated MMA, elevated homocysteine (>10 µmol/l) and low erythrocyte folate (<283 nmol/l) were observed among 75.8, 43.3 and 22.2% of the women, respectively. The median (25th, 75th percentile) dietary intake of vitamin B₁₂ was 1.25 (0.86, 1.96) µg/day. Lower maternal body weight was associated with higher vitamin B₁₂ concentration [prevalence ratios (PR) (95% CI) 0.57 (0.39, 0.84)]. The predictors of impaired vitamin B₁₂ status were no consumption of yoghurt [PR (95% CI) 1.63 (1.03, 2.58)] or fish [PR (95% CI) 1.32 (1.01, 1.71)] and primiparity [PR (95% CI) 1.41 (1.05, 1.90)]. Conclusion: A high prevalence of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in early pregnancy among urban South Indian women was related to primiparity and to a low consumption of yoghurt and fish.

Total and methyl-mercury in hair and milk of mothers living in the city of Porto Velho and in villages along the Rio Madeira, Amazon, Brazil

High fish consumption and extended breastfeeding are hallmarks of traditional lifestyle in Western Amazonia. We studied sources of mercury exposure, fish-methylmercury (meHg) and dental-amalgam filling, in 75 urban and 82 rural lactating mothers. Total mercury was determined in all samples while meHg concentrations were determined in subsamples of milk (45) and hair (27) of urban mothers living in Porto Velho (PV) and in hair (46) and milk (37) of mothers living in traditional communities (TC) of the Rio Madeira. The TC mothers showed significantly higher median hair-Hg concentrations (8.2μgg(-1)) than PV mothers (1.3μgg(-1)). Median total Hg in milk of PV mothers (0.36ngg(-1)) was significantly lower (p=0.0000) than that found in milk of TC mothers (2.30ngg(-1)). The median meHg concentrations in milk of TC mothers were also significantly higher (1.0ngg(-1)) than in milk of PV mothers (0.07ngg(-1)). For urban mothers with low fish consumption rates (and relatively higher dental amalgam fillings) the proportion of inorganic Hg in milk was higher (85%) than in TC (62%). In TC mothers 51% of breast milk Hg concentrations were above 2ngg(-1) (world median concentrations), contrasting with 8% in PV mothers. Despite this, there was no significant correlation between total Hg concentrations in milk and either amalgam filling or daily fish consumption. Socioeconomic changes occurring in Western Amazonia are causing changes in fish-eating habits of urban mothers. However, traditional lifestyle and attendant high fish consumption in riverine populations can still impact total Hg and methylmercury concentrations in mothers' milk and hair.

Abstract 18775: Low Levels of Omega-3s In Hispanics Due to Genetic and Dietary Factors Can be Significantly Improved with a Highly Bioavailable Omega-3 Free-fatty Acid Formulation

Background: Hispanic Americans have low fish consumption compared to non-Hispanics. In addition to dietary intake, LC-PUFA plasma levels are affected by FADS1 gene polymorphisms. FADS1 genes code for desaturases that convert MC-PUFAs (linoleic, alpha-linoleic acid) to LC-PUFAs (arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)). The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs174546 in the FADS1 gene has previously been shown to be associated with variations in plasma EPA and AA and triglycerides levels . The present study evaluated the prevalence of the rs174546 SNP genotypes (CC, CT, TT) and corresponding plasma EPA, DHA and AA levels after treatment with an omega-3 free-fatty acid (FFA) formulation in a population of healthy Hispanic volunteers. Methods: Forty six Hispanic participants in a statin pharmacokinetic study received 40 mg of simvastatin with and without a 4g daily dose of omega-3 FFA (primarily EPA and DHA ) for two weeks in a cross over study. Plasma samples were collected prior to and at the end-of-treatment in the omega-3 FFA arm for analysis of EPA, DHA, and AA. Results: Prior to treatment the Hispanic population had a higher prevalence of TT homozygotes (41%) compared to CC homozygotes (24%) corresponding to significantly different levels of EPA (CC=18 ug/mL; CT=11 ug/mL; TT=7 ug/mL, p &lt;0.0001) and AA (CC=266 ug/mL; CT=202 ug/mL; TT=167 ug/mL, p &lt;0.0001) across genotypes. In response to Omega-3 FFA therapy a substantial increase in EPA was observed, with the largest percent increase in the TT genotype (TT:1054%, CT:573%, CC:253%, p&lt;0.0001). Baseline plasma DHA levels were low suggesting comparable dietary fish intake and changes were similar across genotypes (CC:39%, CT:55%, TT:67%, p=0.2134). Conclusion: In contrast to other ethnicities, the T allele in FADS1 polymorphism, rs174546 is the major allele in Hispanics and the TT genotype is associated with low levels of EPA. This difference in LC-PUFA levels can be exacerbated with low dietary omega-3 intake and may explain the high prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in Hispanics. Our data suggests that treatment with a highly bioavailable omega-3 FFA may result in significant improvement in omega-3 levels in the Hispanic population.

Longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon

This study was a longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon. The study population consisted of 90 children whose exposure levels were assessed by testing mercury levels in the umbilical cord blood and mothers' blood samples in 2000-2001, and in the children's hair and blood samples. The study also used a questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic data, fish consumption, and self-reported disease history. Mean mercury level in hair in 2010 was approximately 1 µg/g, ranging up to 8.22 µg/g, similar to 2004 and 2006. These figures can be explained by low fish consumption. Mean blood mercury levels at birth exceeded 10 µg/L, ranging up to nearly 60 µg/L, which indicates mercury transfer across the placenta. There was a significant increase in blood mercury from 2004 to 2006 (p < 0.001), suggesting exposure through air pollution. The main exposure to mercury was during pregnancy.

A comparative evaluation of women's perceptions and importance of sustainability in fish consumption

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore women's perceptions about the benefits and risks of fish consumption, while exploring differences on their views about wild and farmed fish, considering light fish consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted is exploratory, using focus group technique, segregating women by education level (higher education versus lower education). A focus group guide was designed, taking into account the following dimensions: attitudes towards fish consumption and perceptions towards farmed fish relative to wild fish, also considering risk perceptions related to farmed versus wild fish.FindingsThis study has shown that fish consumers enjoy the taste of fish and they are strongly convinced that eating fish is healthy. The main reason for their low fish consumption is related to perceive lacking of convenience. Women with higher education levels expressed additional knowledge considering different aquaculture systems and women with lower education levels were convinced that both wild and farmed fish offer benefits and present disadvantages.Originality/valueThe paper shows that attitudes of light fish users are partially similar to heavy fish users considering farmed fish production, with the search for convenience being driven by either perceived lack of time or perceived lack of cookery skills to prepare fish‐based meals.

Dietary Patterns and Their Changes in Early Childhood

Early childhood is a critical period for shaping and influencing feeding behaviours which have implications for future health. Understanding the food consumption patterns and their shifts over time can provide guidance to health care providers and nutrition specialists who provide nutrition counselling and develop nutrition messages. To examine feeding patterns of 1-5 year old children and their changes with age. Across-sectional questionnaire study designed to obtain information on basic demographic indicators and feeding habits was conducted in Prague and all 13 regions of the Czech Republic. The carers of 1,130 children aged 1 to 5 years were approached in public places. Obtained data were computerized, descriptive statistics and t-tests for food intake frequency by age, breast-feeding status, sex, maternal education, and domicile were calculated. The difference was considered significant when P value was < 0.05. The median duration of breast-feeding of children not breast-fed at the time of the interview was 9 months; 29.5% one-year olds were still breast-fed at the time of the interview. Median number of meals per day was 4 in 1 and 5 year olds and 5 in children 2 to 4 years old. The diet of one-year-olds, albeit with lower fruit and vegetable consumption and low fish consumption, was close to recommendations. The milk and milk products, fruit, vegetable, and poultry intake frequency significantly decreased with age. The meat and grains groups, smoked meat and meat products, sweets, and fried food intake frequency significantly increased with age. Fish consumption remained low. Higher vegetable intake frequency was associated with breast-feeding, maternal education, and female sex. Higher fruit consumption was associated with breast-feeding and living in Prague. Higher meat group intake frequency was associated with male sex. Our data confirm that the dietary habits are formed early in the life. Enhancement of multi-channel delivery of nutrition messages for feeding of toddlers and pre-schoolers and for the improvement of family eating habits are needed.

Fish or Long-Chain (n-3) PUFA Intake Is Not Associated with Pancreatic Cancer Risk in a Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review1–3

Long-chain (n-3) PUFA (LC-PUFA) have been hypothesized to be beneficial in preventing pancreatic carcinogenesis, but the associations of fish or LC-PUFA intake with pancreatic cancer found in epidemiologic studies have been controversial and inconclusive. To estimate the overall association of LC-PUFA or fish intake with pancreatic cancer, we performed a systematic literature search of English-language articles using PubMed and EMBASE through February 2012 and reviewed the reference lists from retrieved articles. Prospective cohort or case-control studies that reported ratio estimates and corresponding 95% CI for the associations of fish or LC-PUFA intake and pancreatic cancer were selected. Independent data extraction was performed by 2 of the authors. The pooled associations were obtained by using a random-effects model. A database was derived from 9 independent cohorts that included 1,209,265 participants (3082 events) with a mean follow-up of 9 y and 10 independent case-control studies that included 2514 cases and 18,779 controls. Compared with those having the lowest fish consumption, the pooled RR of pancreatic cancer was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.86, 1.12) for those who had the highest fish intake from 8 cohort studies and was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.21) from 9 case-control studies. We found similar results for LC-PUFA intake by combining data from 4 cohorts or 2 case-control studies. Our results do not support an overall inverse association of fish or LC-PUFA intake with risk of pancreatic cancer. Further studies that consider different species and preparation methods of fish, and additional adjustment for contaminants in fish, are warranted.

Nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors in ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma: an exploratory case-control study

To evaluate known and potential risk factors, including nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors, differentiating patients with high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) from control subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT). In 2006-2007, 111 French ophthalmologists prospectively enrolled 339 cases of POAG and 339 age-matched controls with OHT. After a clinical examination with assessment of ocular risk factors, the ophthalmologist filled, during face-to-face interview, a detailed questionnaire developed by nutritionists and epidemiologist on lifestyle and environmental risk factors, including socio-demographic variables, dietary habits related to omega-3 fatty acids intake, smoking and alcohol drinking and professional exposure to pesticides and other chemicals. Associations of POAG with risk factors were estimated using conditional logistic regression, with adjustment for age, gender and duration of disease. In the final multivariate model, by comparison with OHT, POAG was significantly associated with more frequent use of pesticides during the professional life [OR = 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-6.78, p = 0.04] and with low consumption of fatty fish (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.10-4.17, p = 0.02) and walnuts (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.18-3.47, p = 0.01). POAG was also associated with higher frequency of heavy smoking (40 pack-years or more, OR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.12-13.80, p = 0.03) but not with moderate (20-40 pack-years) and light smoking (<20 pack-years). These exploratory observations suggest a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids and a deleterious effect of heavy smoking and professional exposure to pesticides in POAG. This will need to be confirmed in future studies.

Stearidonic Acid: Is There a Role in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

AbstractObesity and its related comorbidities are major public health concerns in the United States with over two-thirds of adults and one-third of children classified as overweight or obese. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has similarly risen to an estimated 25.8 million, which accounts for a staggering $174 billion in annual healthcare costs. Identification of dietary interventions that protect against the development of T2DM would markedly reduce the medical and economic consequences of the disease. Hence, we review current evidence supporting a role of (n-3) PUFA in T2DM and explore potential therapeutic implications of stearidonic acid (SDA). The low consumption of fish in the US along with a reduced efficiency to interconvert most plant (n-3) PUFA highlights a need to find alternative sources of (n-3) PUFA. The efficient biological conversion of SDA to EPA underscores the potential implications of SDA as a source of (n-3) PUFA. The full therapeutic efficacy of SDA remains to be further determined. However, recent data have suggested a protective role of SDA consumption on markers of dyslipidemia and inflammation. The AHA recommends that healthy individuals consume oily fish at least twice per week and individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease consume 1 g of EPA+DHA/d. These goals will likely not be met by the typical American diet. Therefore, SDA may represent a sustainable alternative to marine-based (n-3) PUFA and may have novel therapeutic efficacy regarding the development of T2DM.

Survey of persistent organochlorine contaminants (PCDD, PCDF, and PCB) in fish collected from the Polish Baltic fishing areas.

Concentrations and congener-specific profiles of PCDDs, PCDFs, dl-PCBs, and ndl-PCBs were determined in five species of edible fish from the Baltic Sea (ICES 24–27): salmon (Salmo salar), Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras), sprat (Sprattus sprattus balticus), sea trout (Salmo trutta m.trutta), and cod (Gadus morhua callarias). Marker PCBs were the dominant compounds (0.07–60.84 ng/g w.w.), followed by dl-PCBs (0.64–6.07 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.) and PCDD/PCDFs (0.22–5.67 pg WHO-TEQ w.w). The concentration levels of contaminants varied between species. Salmon possessed the highest concentrations (up to 14.11 ± 2.36 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.) and cod the lowest ones (0.84 ± 0.14 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.). Congener profile in the fish tested had similar pattern. The largest contribution to the dioxin toxicity was caused successively by PCB 126, 118, 156, furans (2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 2,3,7,8-TCDF), and two dioxins: 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Although the dietary consumption of fish from southwest region of the Baltic Sea did not represent a risk for human health (because of very low consumption of marine fish), the excessive eating of some of them may be of significance importance for health of various subgroups of consumers (fishermen).

Impulse for Heart-Healthy Diet: A Short Health Psychological Intervention at the Cardiology Ward

Risk for and progress of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) can be influenced by minimizing modifiable risk factors. CHD patients were assigned to an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). A brief activating health-psychological intervention based on the Health-Action-Process-Approach (HAPA) was build into an educational group setting about heart-healthy nutrition. Patients were encouraged to make an action and coping plan for their future nutrition. Baseline assessment included perceived self-efficacy, intentional status, food consumption; follow-up data were collected two and six months after discharge. In total 201 patients participated (IG:N=143; 62±11.3 years, 64.3% male; CG:N=58; 64±10.3 years, 77.6% male). The IG reported a higher increase in vegetable fat consumption from baseline to two months (p<.05) and in low fat food and fish consumption from baseline to six months (both p<.01). Overall the program was feasibly to be carried out in an acute cardiac care hospital ward. One brief intervention based on the HAPA model could only change some dietary habits over a short period of time; follow-up sessions are necessary to have a larger impact on a wider set of dietary variables and habits over the long term.