Benefits and risks of fish consumption for the human health

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThe article aimed at identifying and discussing scientific evidences on the benefits and risks of fish consumption the human health. There was a systematic survey for articles published from 2003 and May 2011, at the MedLine, Scopus, SciELO, Lilacs and Google Scholar databases. The key words used were: fish, food intake, omega-3 fatty acids, fatty fish, benefits, risk, and consumption. The search produced 12,632 articles, 25 eligible cohort studies on possible benefits, 61 on risks and 10 studies that assessed the "risk/benefit" relation. Of the 25 works, 14 suggested a preventive effect of fish consumption related to cardiovascular diseases, depression, cataract and some types of cancer. Evidences of a relation between exposure to mercury and an increase in the risk of neurological disorders, but not of cardiovascular diseases, were also found. Given the importance of fish consumption, its possible risks and the lack of Brazilian studies on the topic, it is important to conduct more longitudinal studies that assess both the benefits and risks of fish consumption for the human health. We also emphasize the need for policies to reduce exposure of fish and seafood to mercury and other contaminants.Indexing terms: Fishs. Food consumption. Health. Risk. R E S U M O I N T R O D U C T I O NFishes are rich in essential fatty acids, as well as in iron, vitamin B 12 and calcium. Fish consumption is recommended by The American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association (AHA) at least two times a week 1,2 .Brazil has great potential for fish farming due to its extensive maritime coast and continental waters, together with the possibility of consumption of great variety of species 2 . Not with standing that, fish consumption in Brazil dropped considerably in recent years 3,4 .Some studies have demonstrated the health benefits of fish consumption thanks to the correlation between omega-3 fatty acids and a decrease in the incidence of coronary heart diseases 5-10 , depression 11,12 , stroke 13 , blood pressure 5,14 , glycemic index 14 , triglycerides 5 , cancer 15,16 and others. On the other hand, researches could also quantify levels of fish contamination in 17 fish and check possible risks linked to its consumption, such as contamination by heavy metals, organochlorine pollutants and dioxins [17][18][19][20] .With the incentive to fish consumption and a current discussion on its benefits and risks 21,22 , seconded by a lack of scientific studies with clear conclusions about contamination, it is imperative that literature about risks and benefits of fish consumption is reviewed, especially in Brazil. Moreover, in the searches performed, no critical reviews on the subject were found. Therefore, this article aimed at identifying and discussing scientific evidences on the benefits and risks of fish consumption for the human health. M E T H O D SThe study was designed to answer a guiding question: what are the scientific evidences on benefits and risks of fish consumption for the human health? The methodo...

Association of Blood Mercury Level with the Risk of Depression According to Fish Intake Level in the General Korean Population: Findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2013

“…After adjustment for potential confounders (model 2 (fatty fish) and model 3 (model 2+ total fish)), the blood mercury level was significantly associated with increased risk of depression in Korean women. These results suggest that high fish intake may neutralize the effect of mercury on an increased risk of depression, due to high contents of omega-3 fatty acids having protective effects against psychiatric problems such as depression [11]. In our analysis of the association of depression, we found a significantly increased risk of depression for high mercury exposure with low fish intake, but no associations among subjects in higher fish intake group (tertiles 2 and 3, Table 3).…”

“…In humans, EPA and DHA are synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which in turn is obtained from diets [10]. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Heart Association (AHA), consumption of fish at least two times a week is recommended [11]. The omega-3 fatty acid is an essential nutrient; it has been suggested, in fact, that sufficient consumption of fish has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mental illness such as depression [7].…”

Fish consumption based on transtheoretical model among housewives

“…For pregnant women and women at the reproduction age, consuming fish is essential due to its omega-3 content. [ 5 6 7 8 ]…”

Ingestão de pescados e repercussões no recém-nascido: estudo-piloto

“…[8][9][10] O crescimento fetal intraútero em mulheres que consomem peixes e frutos do mar continua motivando os pesquisadores. Existem poucos trabalhos brasileiros sobre os benefícios e riscos do consumo de pescados para a saúde humana, 11 incluindo a ingestão durante a gestação em mulheres sem problemas e possíveis repercussões fetais.…”