The Australian Seafood Diet for Intergenerational Health: Development of a healthy high Australian seafood diet that will be

acceptable to women of child-bearing age

Student: Lily ChanPrincipal Investigator: Lynne CobiacCo-Investigator: Jocelyn Midgley

Michelle MillerCampbell Thompson

Collaborator: Robert GibsonTheme: Sellfish Theme Leader: Jayne Gallagher

Overview• Background• Objectives• Methodology and Timeline• Project Summary

Background

Mix messages around fish consumption • Good for you and baby vs Potential

contaminants

(Fish = Finfish and shellfish, processed and unprocessed)

Background (Pros)Fish • Good source of macro and micronutrients

In particular high-quality protein, EPA, DHA, selenium, iodine

Generally lower in saturated fat

Background (Pros)Fish consumption• Reduced risk of total mortality, coronary heart

disease mortality and stroke1-2 servings of fish/week reduces

coronary death by 36% total mortality by 17%

(Mozaffarian & Rimm 2006)

Background (Pros)Higher fish/fish oil intake during pregnancy was associated

with • Longer gestation duration

Increased length of pregnancy by 2-3 days (Makrides et al 2006)

• Better early child development Cognition, behaviour, motor skills

(Hibbeln et al 2007; Oken et al 2008)

Background (Cons)Potential contaminants in fish:• Methylmercury• Dioxins, dioxin-like compounds and

polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs) • Others (microbiological hazards, naturally

occurring toxins, antimicrobials, allergens)

Background Food Standard Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) advice on

SAFE consumption of fish:

Pregnant women or women planning pregnancy:2 to 3 serves/week of any fish or seafood except • Orange roughy or catfish (limit to 1 serve/week and no other

fish that week)• Shark or Billfish (limit to 1 serve/fortnight and no other fish that

fortnight)(1 serve = 150g)

BackgroundRecommended dietary DHA intake for pregnant and lactating women: • At least 200mg/day• Can be achieved by consuming one to two portions of fish per week,

including oily fish

(European Commission consensus statement, Koletzko et al 2007)

BackgroundWomen 19-44 years (1995 National Nutrition Survey)Average intake of • Fish and seafood products & dishes = 21.2g per day

(McLennan W & Podger 1999)

• Total long-chain n3-fatty acids = 195mg per day

(EPA:60mg DPA:52mg DHA:83mg) (Howe et al 2006)

Objectives• To formulate a healthy Australian seafood dietary

pattern to achieve effective levels of n-3 fatty acids whilst maintaining low levels of contaminants in women of child-bearing age

MethodologyPhase One: Determining compositional profiles of

fish (nutrients & contaminants)• Identify and collate existing fish composition data

applicable to the Australian environment• Conduct analyses

MethodologyPhase Two: Computer dietary modellingUsing a variety of unprocessed and processed fish

products, formulate a diet that will • Achieve desirable levels of n-3 fatty acids and other

nutrients needed for pregnancy• Maintaining low levels of contaminants

“Seafood Diet”

MethodologyPhase Three: Human Intervention Study• Randomised cross-over trial involving women

of child-bearing age• Compare Seafood diet (high n-3 fatty

acids/DHA) with a diet low in n-3 fatty acids/DHA

MethodologyPhase Three: Human Intervention Study• Outcomes assessed:

Fish, n-3 fatty acids/DHA intakes; estimated exposures to mercury & PCBs

Fatty acids in red blood cells; Serum/plasma mercury, PCBs

Cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profile) Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, TGF-β,

cytokines) Acceptability of diet

MethodologyPhase Four: • Revisit diet model • Explore interactions with other dietary

components e.g. selenium, dietary fibre

Task Sep-Oct

2009

Nov-Jan

2009

Feb- Mar 2010

Apr- Dec 2010

Jan-June 2011

Jul- Sep 2011

Oct-Dec 2011

Literature search

Analysis of fish samples

Computer Dietary Modelling

Human Intervention Study

Data analysis and reporting

Revisit model, determine other interactions

Draft Report

Project SummaryFormulation of a diet high in fish/seafood,

that will • Achieve optimal levels of n-3 fatty

acids/DHA as well as other nutrients• Maintain low levels of contaminants and • Acceptable to women of child-bearing age

AND Clear Water Marine Farms, Marine Scale Pilchard Fishermen’s Association and Southland Fish Supplies

“ This work formed part of a project of the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre, and received funds from the

Australian Government’s CRCs Programme, the Fisheries R&D Corporation and other CRC Participants”.

Thank you!

ReferencesHibbeln et al (2007), Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental

outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study, The Lancet, Vol 369, pp578-585.

Howe P, Meyer B, Record S, Baghurst K. Dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: contribution of meat sources. Nutrition 2006; 22:47-53.

Koletzko et al (2007), Consensus Statement Dietary fat intakes for pregnant and lactating women, British Journal of Nutrition, Vol 98, pp.873-877.

McLennan W & Podger A (1999) National Nutrition Survey – Foods Eaten, Australia. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care

Makrides M, Duley L, Olsen SF. Marine oil, and other prostaglandin precursor, supplementation for pregnancy uncomplicated by pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003402.

Mozaffarian & Rimm (2006) ‘Fish Intake, Contaminants, and Human Health’, JAMA Vol 296 No.15 pp1885-1899.

Oken et al (2008), ‘Associations of maternal fish intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration with attainment of developmental milestones in early childhood: a study from the Danish National Birth Cohort, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 88, pp.789-796.