Negative confounding by essential fatty acids in methylmercury neurotoxicity associations

Anna L Choi, Ulla Brasch Mogensen, Kristian S Bjerve, Frodi Debes, Pal Weihe, Philippe Grandjean, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen

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58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury, a worldwide contaminant of fish and seafood, can cause adverse effects on the developing nervous system. However, long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in seafood provide beneficial effects on brain development. Negative confounding will likely result in underestimation of both mercury toxicity and nutrient benefits unless mutual adjustment is included in the analysis.

METHODS: We examined these associations in 176 Faroese children, in whom prenatal methylmercury exposure was assessed from mercury concentrations in cord blood and maternal hair. The relative concentrations of fatty acids were determined in cord serum phospholipids. Neuropsychological performance in verbal, motor, attention, spatial, and memory functions was assessed at 7 years of age. Multiple regression and structural equation models (SEMs) were carried out to determine the confounder-adjusted associations with methylmercury exposure.

RESULTS: A short delay recall (in percent change) in the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) was associated with a doubling of cord blood methylmercury (-18.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-36.3, -1.51). The association became stronger after the inclusion of fatty acid concentrations in the analysis (-22.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-39.4, -4.62). In structural equation models, poorer memory function (corresponding to a lower score in the learning trials and short delay recall in CVLT) was associated with a doubling of prenatal exposure to methylmercury after the inclusion of fatty acid concentrations in the analysis (-1.94, 95% CI=-3.39, -0.49).

CONCLUSIONS: Associations between prenatal exposure to methylmercury and neurobehavioral deficits in memory function at school age were strengthened after fatty acid adjustment, thus suggesting that n-3 fatty acids need to be included in analysis of similar studies to avoid underestimation of the associations with methylmercury exposure.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeurotoxicology and Teratology
Volume42
Pages (from-to)85-92
Number of pages8
ISSN0892-0362
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Attention
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Denmark
  • Fatty Acids, Essential
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood
  • Food Contamination
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurotoxins
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Seafood

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