In cod they trust.
Eating fish while pregnant may reduce the likelihood the child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by 20%, a new study finds. Taking fish oil supplements did not produce the same result.
“This study provides yet more evidence for the safety and benefit of regular fish consumption during pregnancy,” said Dr. Emily Oken, study co-author and professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. “Other proven benefits include lower risk for preterm birth and improved cognitive development.”
Pregnant women are advised to eat 8 to 12 ounces (about two to three servings) of seafood low in mercury a week to aid fetal brain development.
But the authors of the new study — led by researchers from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute — found that about a quarter of the pregnant participants didn’t consume any fish.
The researchers examined the fish intake of 10,800 pregnant women and the fish oil supplementation of 12,646 pregnant women for associations with autism diagnoses and parent-reported autism-related traits.
Some 65% to 85% of participants reported that they didn’t take fish oil or omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
We need omega-3s to help our organs function properly, especially our heart, brain and eyes.
The essential nutrient can be found in foods such as fish, walnuts, flax seeds and leafy vegetables or in fish oil supplements. The body does not naturally produce it.
The Drexel study found that the link between prenatal fish consumption and lower autism prevalence was somewhat stronger for female children.
Omega-3 supplements during pregnancy were not associated with autism diagnosis or autism-related traits, the researchers said.
Autism is a developmental condition that affects how people learn, behave, communicate and interact with others. It is complex and not well-understood by researchers.
The findings were published in the September issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers acknowledged that they were unable to examine which fish were eaten, when during the pregnancy they were consumed and how much omega-3s were in the supplements.
They are calling for better public messaging on the importance of eating fish while pregnant.