No Link Certified between Autism and Eating Fish during Pregnancy

A study reviewing the fish-eating habits of pregnant women has disovered that they are not linked to autism.

Scientists at the University of Bristol worked on the theory that mercury exposure while a woman is pregnant can be a major cause of autism using evidence from nearly 4500 women who took part in the Children of the 90s study.
Using analysis of blood samples, reported fish consumption and information on autism and autistic traits from one of the largest longitudinal studies to date, scientists found no links between levels of mercury in the mothers and autistic traits in their babies. The only negative impact of mercury found was poor social cognition, but only if mothers ate no fish at all, especially for girls.

Principal author and founder of the Children of the 90s study Professor Jean Golding said: "Our findings further endorse the safety of eating fish during pregnancy. Importantly we've found no evidence at all to support claims that mercury is involved in the development of autism or autistic traits."
"This adds to a body of work that endorses the eating of fish during pregnancy for a good nutritional start to life with at least two fish meals a week."

In October 2017 the University of Bristol submitted a policy briefing document to government departments, telling that current advice for pregnant women is complex and confusing and may encourage women to limit or avoid eating fish altogether.
Wellcome Trust Research Fellow at the University of Bristol Dr Caroline Taylor helped to both the new research and policy document and added: "All species of fish contain traces of mercury, which can harm brain development, but we've found that the health benefits of fish, probably from nutrients such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and iodine, outweigh the risks from mercury.

"The advice on eating fish when pregnant is complicated and overwhelming. There is now a body of evidence to support a simpler and clearer approach that maximizes the health benefits of fish. "I believe the next step is for a comprehensive study into how the current guidelines have affected the consumption of fish in pregnant women overall."

Director of the National Autistic Society's Centre for Autism, Carol Povey said: "At The National Autistic Society, we welcome all research which furthers our understanding of autism. This is a strong study which confirms what previous research has found: High mercury levels in pregnant mothers causes autism is a myth.

"There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK and, although the exact causes of autism are still not fully understood, research to date has shown it involves many complex and interacting factors, including genetics, the environment and the development of the brain.

"While it is important to understand the causes of autism, we believe more research should be focused on what helps autistic people and their families so that all autistic people can have a good quality of life and get the support and understanding they need."