Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, methyl mercury and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as biomarkers of fish consumption

Introduction: Fish consumption may promote cardiovascular health. The role of major food contaminants present in fish, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is, however, largely unexplored. Experimental studies indicate that PCBs cause endothelial cell dysfunction, hyperlipidemia and hypertension and cross-sectional associations have been observed between PCB-biomarkers and several intermediate risk factors for cardiovascular disease. PCBs accumulate and magnify in the food chain and fatty fish is a dominating source of exposure in populations with a relatively high fish intake. We assessed the hypothesis that dietary PCB exposure is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and that the exposure may mask a protective association with marine omega-3 fish fatty acids intake. Methods: Validated food frequency questionnaire-based estimates of dietary PCB exposure was obtained at baseline (1997) in 36,759 men from the population-based Cohort of Swedish Men, free of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The estimated dietary PCB exposure was based on the food concentrations of PCB congener 153 at the time of baseline. PCB-153 is the most abundant congener in food and an excellent indicator for total PCB in food and in blood. The long-term dietary PCB exposure assessments showed acceptable validity against six PCB congeners in serum (correlation coefficients 0.30 to 0.58). Cases of MI were ascertained via register-linkage through 2010. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were adjusted for known cardiovascular risk factors. : Results During 12 years of follow-up (433,243 person-years), we ascertained 3,005 incident cases of MI. The major dietary sources of PCB exposure was fish, dairy products and meat. Compared with the lowest quintile of dietary PCB exposure (median 113 ng/day), men in the highest quintile (median 436 ng/day) had multivariable-adjusted RR of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.05-1.41) for MI, without adjusting for the intake of marine omega-3 fish fatty acids. In a separate model, we observed no association between the intake of marine omega-3 fish fatty acids and MI (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.93-1.24). In mutually-adjusted models, dietary PCB exposure was associated with RR 1.72 (95% CI 1.28-2.30), and the intake of marine omega-3 fish fatty acids with RR, 0.67 (95% CI, 0.50-0.90), comparing highest quintiles with lowest. Conclusions: Exposure to an integrated measure of total PCBs from food was associated with increased risk of MI in men. The results may provide important information regarding the risk-benefit analysis of fish consumption. To increase the net benefits of fish consumption, PCB contamination should be reduced to a minimum: Future studies are needed to clarify the concentrations of PCBs that may offset the beneficial effects of fish consumption.

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Abstract P104: Dietary Polychlorinated biphenyls and Long-chain Omega-3 Fish fatty acids Exposures and Risk of Heart Failure

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.p104 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Maria Kippler ◽

Carolina Donat Vargas ◽

Marika Berglund ◽

Anders Glynn ◽

Alicja Wolk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Incident Cases ◽

Long Chain ◽

Pcb Exposure

The potential beneficial effects of fish consumption on heart failure (HF) may be modified by major food contaminants in fish. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in particular, have been associated with well-established risk factors of HF such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Likewise, experimental and cross-sectional studies in humans suggest that PCB exposure may be involved in the development of HF. We aimed to assess the association of both dietary PCB and long-chain omega-3 fish fatty acids exposures with risk of HF in two large population-based prospective cohorts. We used the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, comprising 32,867 women and 36,545 men, free of cancer, heart failure, myocardial infarction and diabetes at baseline in 1997. A questionnaire on diet (96-food items) and lifestyle factors was completed at baseline. We calculated validated estimates of dietary PCB exposure and intake of long-chain omega-3 fish fatty acids [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]. First incident cases of HF were ascertained through computerized linkage to the National Patient Register and the Cause of Death Register, defined as hospitalizations for (listed as the primary diagnosis) or death from HF. We use multivariable-adjusted Cox regression to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), by quintiles of dietary PCB and EPA/DHA and controlling for known HF risk factors. During an average of 12 years of follow-up, 1,263 and 1,606 first incident cases of HF were ascertained in women and men, respectively. In multivariable-adjusted models, we observed no association between dietary PCB exposure or EPA/DHA intake and risk of HF. However, after additional mutual adjustments for PCBs and EPA/DHA, HRs for dietary PCB exposure were 1.60 (95% CI, 1.08-2.38) among women and 1.40 (95% CI, 0.97-2.02) among men, comparing extreme quintiles. The corresponding HRs for EPA/DHA intake were 0.62 (95% CI, 0.42-0.92) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.55-1.13), respectively. Dietary exposure to PCBs was associated with an increased risk of HF in women, while EPA/DHA intake was associated with a lower risk of HF. Results for men was less evident but showed a similar trend. The results provide important information regarding the risk-benefit analysis of fish consumption, especially in cardiovascular disease prevention.

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Intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls via consumption of fish from Taihu Lake, China: A risk–benefit assessment

Food Chemistry ◽

10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.11.082 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 132 (2) ◽

pp. 975-981 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Dong-Ping Zhang ◽

Xin-Yu Zhang ◽

Ying-Xin Yu ◽

Jun-Ling Li ◽

Zhi-Qiang Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽

Taihu Lake ◽

Benefit Assessment ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Risk Benefit Assessment ◽

Diphenyl Ethers

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Fish Consumption and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Relation to Depressive Episodes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0010530 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. e10530 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Anna Liisa Suominen-Taipale ◽

Timo Partonen ◽

Anu W. Turunen ◽

Satu Männistö ◽

Antti Jula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Depressive Episodes

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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of polyunsaturated fatty acids efficacy in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.33450/fpn.2020.06.001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 95-106

Author(s):

Agnieszka M. Piróg-Balcerzak ◽

Anna K. Bażyńska ◽

Katarzyna Biernacka ◽

Joanna Brągoszewska ◽

Lidia Popek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Female Adolescent ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Eat 26

Objective. Omega–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were tested in adolescent depression and in several neurodevelopmental disorders with partial success. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by deficiencies in fatty food intake and frequent comorbidity, including depressive and cognitive symptoms. Thus supplementation with PUFAs may be beneficial in this group of patients. The aim of the study was to assess whether PUFAs as an add-on treatment is associated with better improvement of body mass index (BMI) and psychopathological symptoms than placebo in patients with AN. Method. 61 female adolescent inpatients with AN were randomly allocated to omega–3 PUFAs supplementation or placebo for 10 weeks. Patients also participated in the behavioural programme and eclectic psychotherapy (treatment as usual, TAU). At baseline and follow-up visits, patients’ BMI and psychopathology were assessed with Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Patient Global Impression Scale (PGI), and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Results. After 10 weeks, both groups showed improvement in all parameters. Improvement in CGI scores was observed greater in placebo vs. PUFA-s group (p = 0.015) while other differences were not statistically significant. Omega–3 PUFAs supplementation appears not to be effective as an add-on treatment in inpatient adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions. The results should be analysed with caution due to small sample size and heterogeneity in TAU. As the TAU turned out to be highly effective, additional therapeutic effect of PUFA might not be visible. Nevertheless, that does not explain the tendency for better improvement in the placebo group.

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