Salmon dish. (Photo Credit: NSEC)
Norwegian fish intake offers no concerning health risks
NORWAY
Wednesday, December 17, 2014, 02:10 (GMT + 9)
Fish consumption benefits clearly outweigh its risks, since the current contaminant levels as well as that of other known undesirable substances offer no concern.
This conclusion was drawn by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) in a report for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA). The aim of this study was to issue an update of the 2006 report on nutrients and contaminants in fish.
VKM carried out a comprehensive assessment of the scientific literature on the positive health effects of fish consumption and the contribution from fish to intake of beneficial compounds as well as exposure to hazardous contaminants in Norway.
The Committee found out that adults including pregnant women who consume less than one serving of fish per week may miss the beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases and optimal neurodevelopment in the foetuses and infants.
It also concluded that only adults (18-70 years of age) with an average or higher fish consumption reach the national food based dietary guidelines for total fish consumption.
The Committee explained that due to replacement of fish oil and fish protein with plant proteins and vegetable oils in farmed fish feed, the concentrations in farmed Atlantic salmon with regard to EPA, DPA and DHA, and selenium are about 50 and 40 per cent respectively, of the corresponding levels in 2006, while the concentration of vitamin D appears unchanged.
Besides, the level of iodine in farmed Atlantic salmon was low in 2006, and is still low compared to lean fish and the level of n-6 fatty acids is about 4-fold higher than in 2006.
The report stresses that, with current average fish consumption, low intakes of selenium and iodine from fish relative to the national recommended values may be complemented by intake from other dietary sources.
In addition, VKM considers that the present exposure to residues of veterinary medicinal products including residues of antibiotics in farmed fish in the Norwegian diet is of no concern since the levels are very low and often not detectable even with sensitive analytical methods.
According to the study, the current concentrations of dioxins and dl-PCBs, and mercury in farmed Atlantic salmon are reduced to about 30 and 50 per cent, respectively, of the corresponding levels in 2006.
VKM concludes that with the present mean concentration of mercury in fish on the Norwegian market and the present fish consumption in Norway, the methylmercury exposure from fish is below the tolerable weekly intake for more than 95 per cent of the population of 2-year-olds, adults and pregnant women.
The Committee has found out that daily consumption of cod liver oil or fish oil in amounts as suggested on the product will in addition contribute with 0.8 to 16 per cent of the tolerable weekly intake, depending on the body weight.
With the present tolerable weekly intake and taking into consideration that fish and fish products are significant sources to dioxins and dl-PCBs in the Norwegian diet, VKM concludes that the exposure from fish to dioxins and dl-PCBs represents negligible risk and is of no concern.
The NFSA and the Directorate of Health will use the updated assessment as a basis for public recommendations concerning the consumption of fish and fish products.
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