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Low-level mercury, omega-3 index and neurobehavioral outcomes in an adult US coastal population

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Abstract

Background

Neurodevelopmental effects of omega-3 fatty acids and mercury from fish consumption have been characterized in children. In contrast, neurobehavioral outcomes associated with fish are not well studied in adults.

Objective

This study of avid seafood consumers on Long Island (NY, USA) sought to define associations between mercury, seafood consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and neurobehavioral outcomes.

Methods

A computer-based test system was used to assess neurobehavioral function. Blood total Hg (Hg) and omega-3 index were measured in 199 adult avid seafood eaters, who also completed the neurobehavioral assessment and an extensive food and fish frequency and demographic questionnaire.

Results

For most of the outcomes considered, neither Hg nor omega-3 index was associated with neurobehavioral outcomes after adjustment for key confounding variables. Fish consumption, however, was associated with decreased odds of both self-reported fatigue (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72, 1.01) and a constellation of neurologic symptoms (OR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.66, 0.96).

Conclusions

Results from our study provide little evidence that omega-3 fatty acids or Hg is associated with cognitive function in adult avid seafood consumers. Larger studies are needed to confirm our finding of associations between fish consumption and decreased self-reported fatigue and neurologic impairment.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the participants and research support staff of the Long Island Seafood Study of avid seafood consumers, including the Clinical Research Core at Stony Brook Medical Center, Karen Warren, Anant Kharode, Nikita Timofeev, Jia Juan (Tommy) Chu, Rebecca Monastero, Paige de Rosa and Shivam Kothari. This work was supported by NY Sea Grant # R/SHH-17 and the Gelfond Fund for Mercury Research and Outreach (Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY). There was no input from the funding bodies on the content of this work.

Conflict of interest

Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and Dr. Rohlman have a significant financial interest in Northwest Education Training and Assessment [or NwETA], a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research and technology. This potential individual and institutional conflict of interest has been reviewed and managed by OHSU and the University of Iowa.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Caterina Vacchi-Suzzi & Jaymie R. Meliker

  2. School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Roxanne Karimi

  3. Trace Inorganics Department, Technologies for Industry and the Environment, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

    Keith E. Levine

  4. Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Diane S. Rohlman

  5. Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Diane S. Rohlman

  6. Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Susan M. Silbernagel

  7. School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Danielle Kruse

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  1. Caterina Vacchi-Suzzi
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Correspondence to Caterina Vacchi-Suzzi.

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Vacchi-Suzzi, C., Karimi, R., Kruse, D. et al. Low-level mercury, omega-3 index and neurobehavioral outcomes in an adult US coastal population. Eur J Nutr 55, 699–711 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0890-5

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