Fatty fish, hair mercury and cognitive function in Norwegian preschool children: Results from the randomized controlled trial FINS-KIDS. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kvestad, Ingrid; Vabø, Silje; Kjellevold, Marian; Nøstbakken, Ole Jakob; Midtbø, Lisa Kolden; Hysing, Mari; Markhus, Maria Wik; Madsen, Lise; Handeland, Katina; Graff, Ingvild Eide; Lie, Øyvind; Frøyland, Livar; Stormark, Kjell Morten; Dahl, Lisbeth; Øyen, Jannike
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 121(2018)Part 2
• Page Start: 1098
• Page End: 1105
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: bw birth weight -- CNS central nervous system -- DHA docosahexaenoic acid -- EFSA European Food Safety Authority -- EPA eicosapentaenoic acid -- FFQ food frequency questionnaire -- Hg mercury -- IMR Institute of Marine Research -- LOD limit of detection -- LOQ limit of quantification -- MeHg methylmercury -- n-3 LC-PUFA long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids -- RBC red blood cells -- RfD reference dose -- RCT randomized controlled trial -- SES socio-economic status -- THHg total hair mercury concentration -- TWI tolerable weekly intake -- UFGC ultrafast gas chromatographic -- US-EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency -- VKM Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety -- WPPSI-III Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, 3rd edition -- FIQ Full-Scale IQ -- VIQ Verbal IQ -- PIQ Performance IQ -- PSI processing speed index; Hair mercury -- Methylmercury -- Fish consumption -- Cognitive development -- Preschool children; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The toxic effects of prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) include neurological abnormalities and developmental delay of which infants and children are particular susceptible. Studies on the effects of low and moderate exposure show conflicting results. Seafood is the main dietary source of MeHg, but also contributes with nutrients regarded as beneficial for development. Objectives: To measure the change in total hair mercury concentration (THHg) after an intervention of lunch meals with fatty fish or meat in Norwegian preschool children, and to examine the associations between THHg and cognitive function. Methods: Children (n = 232) 4–6 years old were randomized to lunch meals with fatty fish (n = 114) or meat (n = 118) three times a week for 16 weeks. THHg was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer, and cognitive function was assessed by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Intelligence Scale-III (WPPSI-III) pre- and post-intervention. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze changes in THHg and WPPSI-III scores. Results: The mean (SD) THHg pre-intervention was 0.373 (0.204) mg kg −1 . Children in the fish group had an increase in THHg (change 0.162, 95% CI 0.111, 0.213 mg kg −1 ), whereas children in the meat group had decreased THHg (−0.053, 95% CI −0.103, −0.002 mg kg −1 ). There were no notable associations between THHg and the WPPSI-III raw scores at baseline or after 16 weeks of the fish/meat intervention. Conclusions: Lunch meals including fatty fish led to a significant increase in THHg, but the values remain below the point of departures used for risk assessment by the EFSA, WHO and US-EPA. We observed no associations between THHg and cognitive function. Highlights: A fatty fish intervention increased mercury hair-concentration in preschoolers. Mercury exposure from the intervention was below the tolerable weekly intake. The mercury hair-concentration remained below points of departures shown by EFSA. Mercury hair-concentration was not related to cognition in the preschoolers.