Maternal seafood consumption and fetal growth: A birth cohort study in urban China

Abstract Background: Seafood is a good source of the essential fatty acids which has presumably beneficial effect on developing embryos and fetuses, although it is also a source of contaminants. In this context, pregnant women are face with conflicting reports on risk and benefits of seafood consumption. This study aims to assess whether the consumption of seafood during pregnancy were associated with fetal growth. Methods: This study covered 10,179 women who delivered a singleton live birth, conducted in Lanzhou, China. The clinical data including birth outcomes and maternal complications information is extracted from medical records of the participants. We also collected information from them on intake of seafood using food frequency questionnaire. Associations between seafood consumption and birth weight, birth length, and head circumference were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results: There was a positive association between total seafood consumption and birth weight (β 7.420, P<0.001) but no association concerning birth length or head circumference. Seafood consumption was associated with decreased risk of low birth weight (OR = 0.575, 95 % CI 0.480, 0.689). The frequency of seafood consumption during pregnancy showed a trend toward a positive association with low birth weight. Significantly reduce rates of low birthweight were found in women who consumed more than 75g seafood/week during pregnancy as compared to women with no or very low intakes(P for trend 0.021). Conclusions: Maternal seafood consumption was associated with decreased risk of low birth weight and increased birth weight. This association was mainly driven by freshwater fish and shellfish. These results further corroborate the present dietary recommendation to the Chinese Nutrition Society for pregnant women. In addition, our work emphasis the value of public health advice to change dietary habits for women in inland city in China.