However in the UK, where mercury levels in seafood are relatively low, the benefits of eating fish in moderation outweighed the risk of contamination.
Julie Daniels, from the University of North Carolina, also looked at the mercury levels in the umbilical cords of the children.
70% of the women in the study said they ate fish at least once a week.


In tests carried out at 15 months children, scores were 7% higher in those whose mothers ate fish at least once a week compared to others whose mothers never ate fish.The largest effect of a fish diet seemed to be in children's understanding of words and to a lesser extent in social activity and language development.children who ate fish at least once a week before their first birthday too scored high. Previous investigations of fish intake in relation to neurodevelopment have focused on possible damage from contaminants while the potential benefits have been relatively unexplored. said Julie Daniels.

Although higher concentrations of mercury were found in women who ate fish, there was no link found in the developmental tests and overall levels were low in the umbilical cords of 1,200 babies examined

The study suggested that eating four ounce portions of fish between one and three times a week was enough to produce benefits. Consuming higher levels did not seem to have any added benefit. The study does agree that more research was needed to assess the benefits of eating fish in areas with a higher level of mercury pollution. Certain types of oily fish such as salmon and tuna contained omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary for the normal growth and development of the foetal brain and nervous system.

The study did not particulary look at how often the mothers ate oily fish, whether the infants were breast or bottle-fed or whether after weaning the infants consumed fish as part of their diet.However it does suggest that eating fish during pregnancy has beneficial effects.

The recommendations of the UK Food Standards Agency arethat women of childbearing age should eat a maximum of two portions of oily fish a week while Others can eat up to four portions a week.More studies are needed to confirm the effects observed on cognitive function.

Fish Intake During Pregnancy and Early Cognitive Development of Offspring.

Original Article
Epidemiology. 15(4):394-402, July 2004.
Daniels, Julie L. *; Longnecker, Matthew P. *; Rowland, Andrew S. +; Golding, Jean ++; The ALSPAC Study Team-University of Bristol Institute of Child Health

Abstract:
Background: Fish is a source of many nutrients that can be beneficial during pregnancy, as well as a source of neurotoxicant contaminants such as methylmercury. Previous investigations of fish intake in relation to neurodevelopment have focused on possible damage from contaminants, whereas potential benefits of fish consumption have been relatively unexplored

Methods: We evaluated the association between maternal fish intake during pregnancy and offspring's early development of language and communication skills in a cohort of 7421 British children born in 1991-1992. Fish intake by the mother and child was measured by questionnaire. The child's cognitive development was assessed using adaptations of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory at 15 months of age and the Denver Developmental Screening Test at 18 months of age. Mercury was measured in umbilical cord tissue for a subset of 1054 children

Results: Total mercury concentrations were low and were not associated with neurodevelopment. Fish intake by the mother during pregnancy, and by the infant postnatally, was associated with higher mean developmental scores. For example, the adjusted mean MacArthur comprehension score for children whose mothers consumed fish 4 or more times per week was 72 (95% confidence interval = 71-74), compared with 68 (66-71) among those whose mothers did not consume fish.

Conclusions: When fish is not contaminated, moderate fish intake during pregnancy and infancy may benefit development.

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