Study finds pregnant women eating seafood helps child
{{date|February 16, 2007}}

[[Image:Food and Drug Administration logo.svg|thumb|right|The [[w:FDA|FDA logo]]]]

According to a recent survey and study reported in the British journal ''[[w:Lancet (journal)|Lancet]]'', mothers eating fish during certain parts of their pregnancy could possibly help a child's development.

Seafood is the predominant source of [[w:omega-3 fatty acids|omega-3 fatty acids]], which are essential for optimal neural development.

The survey of more than 11,000 women in the United Kingdom, noted their weekly seafood intake and found that low seafood intake was correlated with a higher risk of suboptimal developmental outcome.

During 2004, the [[w:United States|United States]] [[w:FDA|Food and Drug Administration]] and the [[w:Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] released a report recommending pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat less than 12  [[w:ounces|ounces]] (340 [[w:gram|grams]]) of seafood every week to prevent development problems due to the toxins in the seafood. The advisory noted that shark, swordfish, king mackerel should not be eaten more than once weekly.

An FDA spokesperson said that neither the FDA or the EPA had any comment on the study and would need to review it before commenting.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/15/seafood.pregnancy/index.html
|title=Study: Fish good for pregnant women
|author=CNN
|pub=CNN
|date=February 15, 2007}}
*{{Source-science|url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607602773/fulltext  
|authors=Joseph R Hibbeln, John M Davis, Colin Steer, Pauline Emmett, Cathy Williams and Jean Golding
|title=Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study
|journal=The Lancet
|pubyear=2007
|edition=369
|pagenumbers=578-585}}

{{Publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Food and Drug Administration]]
[[Category:Fish]]
[[Category:Sharks]]
FDA logo

According to a recent survey and study reported in the British journal Lancet, mothers eating fish during certain parts of their pregnancy could possibly help a child's development.

Seafood is the predominant source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for optimal neural development.

The survey of more than 11,000 women in the United Kingdom, noted their weekly seafood intake and found that low seafood intake was correlated with a higher risk of suboptimal developmental outcome.

During 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency released a report recommending pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat less than 12  ounces (340 grams) of seafood every week to prevent development problems due to the toxins in the seafood. The advisory noted that shark, swordfish, king mackerel should not be eaten more than once weekly.

An FDA spokesperson said that neither the FDA or the EPA had any comment on the study and would need to review it before commenting.
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