Eating fish may keep ADHD at bay in kids
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHILDREN'S risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in life may be tied to how much fish their mothers ate while pregnant, according to a United States study.
Researchers writing in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that eating at least two servings of fish per week was linked to about a 60 percent lower risk of kids developing certain ADHD-like symptoms.
But elevated mercury levels, which can also come from eating more fish - depending on the fish - were tied to a higher risk of developing the symptoms, such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness.
Though the study did not prove cause and effect, and did not use a formal diagnosis of ADHD, it may offer insights into a condition that's estimated to have an impact on one in 10 children in the US, the researchers say.
"The really important message is to eat fish," said Sharon Sagiv, the study's lead author from the Boston University School of Public Health.
"Just stay away from mercury-containing fish, because these protective effects are pretty important."
Sagiv said it's best to stay away from "big fishes," such as tuna and swordfish, which typically contain the most mercury. Instead, stick to fish such as haddock and salmon.
Past studies looking at the link between mercury and ADHD have produced conflicting results.
For the new study, the researchers followed 788 children who were born near New Bedford, Massachusetts, between 1993 and 1998.
They used hair samples taken from the mothers right after delivery to test their mercury levels, and food diaries to see how much fish they ate.
Researchers writing in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that eating at least two servings of fish per week was linked to about a 60 percent lower risk of kids developing certain ADHD-like symptoms.
But elevated mercury levels, which can also come from eating more fish - depending on the fish - were tied to a higher risk of developing the symptoms, such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness.
Though the study did not prove cause and effect, and did not use a formal diagnosis of ADHD, it may offer insights into a condition that's estimated to have an impact on one in 10 children in the US, the researchers say.
"The really important message is to eat fish," said Sharon Sagiv, the study's lead author from the Boston University School of Public Health.
"Just stay away from mercury-containing fish, because these protective effects are pretty important."
Sagiv said it's best to stay away from "big fishes," such as tuna and swordfish, which typically contain the most mercury. Instead, stick to fish such as haddock and salmon.
Past studies looking at the link between mercury and ADHD have produced conflicting results.
For the new study, the researchers followed 788 children who were born near New Bedford, Massachusetts, between 1993 and 1998.
They used hair samples taken from the mothers right after delivery to test their mercury levels, and food diaries to see how much fish they ate.
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