Controversy exists among scientists, policy makers, and the public/media regarding health risks and benefits of fish intake in adults. Evidence indicates that long-chain n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) reduce risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conversely, exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) present in some fish species may increase CVD risk. Fish are also a major source of selenium (Se), a trace element that may protect against MeHg toxicity. Thus, simultaneous consideration of CVD risks and benefits of n-3 FA, MeHg, and Se is necessary to allow informed decision-making by individuals and policy makers. Unfortunately, prior analyses of CVD effects of fish intake have generally focused either on risks of MeHg or benefits of n-3 FA (or, more rarely, of Se), rather than investigating their joint impact on CVD health. Accurate quantitative assessment of total effects of MeHg, Se, and n-3 FA would require comparable and objective biomarker assessments of each exposure in the same population, with adequate numbers of prospectively ascertained CVD endpoints and standardized covariate evaluation to minimize bias and imprecision. This Revision will dramatically accelerate the tempo of scientific research by adding to the parent grant objective biomarkers of n-3 FA levels and personnel/staff support to (1) prospectively investigate, using comparable and objective methods, the effects of n-3 FA, MeHg, and Se on CVD endpoints and (2) derive an evidence-based risk-assessment framework to quantify CVD effects of consuming specific fish species containing varying n-3 FA, MeHg, and Se. This research will overcome, for the first time, the present major limitations in the field. This Revision also will directly stimulate the U.S. economy by providing substantial job creation, including several new positions, as well as increased hours and retention of current staff and procurement of additional necessary equipment.

Public Health Relevance

The research questions are important, novel, and timely for both science and public health policy. In addition to informing CVD risks and benefits of fish consumption and stimulating the US economy, the risk-assessment framework developed during this work will also inform future risk-benefit modeling of other key health outcomes affected by fish consumption, such as brain development in utero and infancy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01ES014433-03S1
Application #
7820009
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-PSE-G (95))
Program Officer
Dilworth, Caroline H
Project Start
2009-09-26
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2009-09-26
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$1,230,625
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Saber, Hamidreza; Yakoob, Mohammad Yawar; Shi, Peilin et al. (2017) Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Incident Ischemic Stroke and Its Atherothrombotic and Cardioembolic Subtypes in 3 US Cohorts. Stroke 48:2678-2685
Yakoob, Mohammad Y; Shi, Peilin; Willett, Walter C et al. (2016) Circulating Biomarkers of Dairy Fat and Risk of Incident Diabetes Mellitus Among Men and Women in the United States in Two Large Prospective Cohorts. Circulation 133:1645-54
Cornelis, Marilyn C; Fornage, Myriam; Foy, Millennia et al. (2015) Genome-wide association study of selenium concentrations. Hum Mol Genet 24:1469-77
Malik, Vasanti S; Chiuve, Stephanie E; Campos, Hannia et al. (2015) Circulating Very-Long-Chain Saturated Fatty Acids and Incident Coronary Heart Disease in US Men and Women. Circulation 132:260-8
Yakoob, Mohammad Y; Shi, Peilin; Hu, Frank B et al. (2014) Circulating biomarkers of dairy fat and risk of incident stroke in U.S. men and women in 2 large prospective cohorts. Am J Clin Nutr 100:1437-47
Lajous, Martin; Willett, Walter C; Robins, James et al. (2013) Changes in fish consumption in midlife and the risk of coronary heart disease in men and women. Am J Epidemiol 178:382-91
Mozaffarian, Dariush; Shi, Peilin; Morris, J Steven et al. (2013) Methylmercury exposure and incident diabetes in U.S. men and women in two prospective cohorts. Diabetes Care 36:3578-84
Park, Kyong; Rimm, Eric B; Siscovick, David S et al. (2012) Toenail selenium and incidence of type 2 diabetes in U.S. men and women. Diabetes Care 35:1544-51
Mozaffarian, Dariush; Shi, Peilin; Morris, J Steven et al. (2012) Mercury exposure and risk of hypertension in US men and women in 2 prospective cohorts. Hypertension 60:645-52
Mozaffarian, Dariush; Shi, Peilin; Morris, J Steven et al. (2011) Mercury exposure and risk of cardiovascular disease in two U.S. cohorts. N Engl J Med 364:1116-25

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