Fish not to blame for ADHD

A study of children suggests that low-level prenatal mercury exposure may be associated with a greater risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors and that fish consumption during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of these behaviors, according to a report by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 

"In this population-based prospective cohort study, hair mercury levels were consistently associated with ADHD-related behaviors, including inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. We also found that higher prenatal fish consumption was protective for these behaviors," the authors comment. There also appeared to be a "protective" (lower risk) association for fish consumption of greater than two servings per week with ADHD-related behaviors, particularly impulsive/hyperactive behaviors.

In a separate study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a team of researchers found that the health benefits of fish outweigh the negative impacts when consumers choose wisely. The joint study out of Sweden and Finland aimed to create a risk-benefit model that would shed light on the risk of mercury consumption, versus the value of omega-3 fatty acids. Even a small change in fish consumption was found to prevent 7 percent of heart attacks in men, as long as mercury levels remained low. The conclusion? Eat fish, but avoid large predatory species which contain a lot more mercury than smaller ones. The most commonly eaten types of seafood low in mercury are sardine, shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish.