European Journal of Nutrition

, Volume 55, Issue 2, pp 699–711 | Cite as

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

  • Caterina Vacchi-Suzzi
  • Roxanne Karimi
  • Danielle Kruse
  • Susan M. Silbernagel
  • Keith E. Levine
  • Diane S. Rohlman
  • Jaymie R. Meliker
Original Contribution
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:
  • 316 Downloads

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.

Keywords

Mercury Omega-3 n-3 fatty acids Methylmercury Neurological test Neurobehavioral test 
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Notes

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.

Supplementary material

394_2015_890_MOESM1_ESM.docx (35 kb)
Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 35 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Caterina Vacchi-Suzzi
    • 1
  • Roxanne Karimi
    • 2
  • Danielle Kruse
    • 7
  • Susan M. Silbernagel
    • 6
  • Keith E. Levine
    • 3
  • Diane S. Rohlman
    • 4
    • 5
  • Jaymie R. Meliker
    • 1
  1. 1.Program in Public Health, Department of Preventive MedicineStony Brook UniversityStony BrookUSA
  2. 2.School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesStony Brook UniversityStony BrookUSA
  3. 3.Trace Inorganics Department, Technologies for Industry and the EnvironmentRTI InternationalResearch Triangle ParkUSA
  4. 4.Occupational and Environmental HealthUniversity of IowaIowa CityUSA
  5. 5.Oregon Institute for Occupational Health SciencesOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUSA
  6. 6.Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleUSA
  7. 7.School of MedicineStony Brook UniversityStony BrookUSA

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