A Study of Trace Elements in Human Placenta, Blood and Hair From the Yugoslav Central Adriatic

Horvat, Maja; Stegnar, P.; Byrne, A. R.; Dermelj, M.; Branica, Z.

doi:10.1515/9783112417201-025

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Generally, the larger fish and sea mammals at the top of the food chain, such as shark, tuna, and whale, contain higher levels of MeHg than the smaller ones. Fetuses are known to be a high-risk group for MeHg exposure ( − ) since the susceptibility of the developing brain itself is high ( − ) and higher MeHg accumulates in cord blood than in maternal blood ( − ). Therefore, the effect of MeHg exposure on pregnant women remains an important issue for elucidation, especially in populations which consume much fish and sea mammals ( 3 , 11−14 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal and Fetal Mercury and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids as a Risk and Benefit of Fish Consumption to Fetus

Sakamoto

Kubota

Liu

et al. 2004

Environ. Sci. Technol.

112

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Maternal fish consumption brings both risks and benefits to the fetus from the standpoint of methylmercury (MeHg) and n-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids). MeHg is one of the most risky substances to come through fish consumption, and mercury concentrations in red blood cells (RBC-Hg) are the best biomarker of MeHg exposure. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), which is one of the most important fatty acids for normal brain development and function, is also derived from fish consumption. Our objective in this study was to examine the relationships between RBC-Hg and plasma fatty acid composition in mother and fetus at parturition. Venous blood samples were collected from 63 pairs of mothers and fetuses (umbilical cord blood) at delivery. In all cases, fetal RBC-Hg levels were higher than maternal RBC-Hg levels. The geometric mean of fetal RBC-Hg was 13.4 ng/g, which was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of maternal RBC-Hg (8.41 ng/g). While the average fetal/maternal RBC-Hg ratio was 1.6, the individual ratios varied from 1.08 to 2.19, suggesting considerable individual differences in MeHg concentrations between maternal and fetal circulations at delivery. A significant correlation was observed between maternal and fetal DHA concentrations (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Further, a significant correlation was observed between RBC-Hg and plasma DHA in fetus (r = 0.35, p < 0.01). These results confirm that both MeHg and DHA which originated from fish consumption transferred from maternal to fetal circulation and existed in the fetal circulation with a positive correlation. Pregnant women in particular need not give up eating fish to obtain such benefits. However, they would do well to at least consume smaller fish, which contain less MeHg, thereby balancing the risks and benefits from fish comsumption.

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