Any fish, any amount will do
By Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes
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However, researchers did not find the same association with
supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, an
essential nutrient during pregnancy for supporting maternal health and child
neurodevelopment. A recent analysis of ECHO Cohort data revealed that about
25% of the pregnant participants reported never eating fish or consuming it
less than once a month during their pregnancy. Even fewer participants reported
taking omega-3 fish oil supplements.
ECHO Cohort researchers wanted to see whether low fish
consumption and omega-3 supplement use during pregnancy might be associated
with the occurrence of an autism diagnosis or parent-reported autism-related
traits.
“Our study contributes to a growing body of evidence that
demonstrates the role that prenatal diet can play in autism-related outcomes in
offspring,” said ECHO Cohort researcher Emily Oken, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical
School.
Dr. Oken said the findings underscored the need for better
public health messaging about guidelines for fish consumption for pregnant
people, considering the low fish intake in the U.S. and the rising diagnoses of
autism.
What happened during the study?
Researchers analyzed data from about 4,000 participants,
examining the relationships among fish intake, supplement use, and
neurodevelopmental outcomes related to autism.
Fish consumption and omega-3 supplement use were measured
with dietary information reported by participants. Participants’ fish
consumption was categorized as less than once a month, more than once a month
but less than weekly, weekly, and two or more servings per week. About 20% of
adult participants reported no fish intake, and most reported not using omega-3
or fish oil supplements.
The researchers then looked at the relationship between
maternal fish intake and omega-3 fish oil supplement use during pregnancy and
the occurrence of clinician-diagnosed autism and parent-reported autism-related
traits. These traits were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS),
a widely used survey completed by parents or caregivers. Higher scores on the
SRS indicate the presence of more autism-related behaviors.
Consuming fish during pregnancy was associated with a lower
likelihood of offspring being diagnosed with autism and a slight decrease in
total SRS scores compared to not eating fish. These results were consistent
across all levels of fish consumption, from “any” amount or “less than once per
week” to “more than twice per week.” No significant associations were found
between omega-3 fish oil supplements and autism diagnosis compared to no use.
Experts recommend that people consume
additional omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Prenatal fish intake is a key
source of omega-3 fatty acids that are critical for fetal brain development.
However, fish and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the U.S. is
low.
“This study provides yet more evidence for the safety and
benefit of regular fish consumption during pregnancy,” said Dr. Oken. “Other
proven benefits include lower risk for preterm birth and improved cognitive
development.”
Reference: “Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3
supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results
from a cohort consortium analysis” by Kristen Lyall, Matt Westlake, Rashelle J
Musci, Kennedy Gachigi, Emily S Barrett, Theresa M Bastain, Nicole R Bush,
Claudia Buss, Carlos A Camargo, Lisa A Croen, Dana Dabelea, Anne L Dunlop, Amy
J Elliott, Assiamira Ferrara, Akhgar Ghassabian, James E Gern, Marion E Hare,
Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Alison E Hipwell, Christine W Hockett and S Swan, 1 July
2024, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
DOI:
10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.06.013
