October 1, 2013 — Pregnant women may be safe to eat fish, even those varieties that are reportedly high in mercury.
Fish consumption may make up only 7 percent of the mercury levels found in the human body, according to new research published Sept. 30 in Environmental Health Perspectives. That suggests eating fish likely won't present a major health risk to mom and baby. The food might even offer benefits, according to the study's authors.
"We were pleasantly surprised to find that fish contributes such a small amount to blood mercury levels," author Jean Golding, professor at the University of Bristol in England, said in a press release. "We have previously found that eating fish during pregnancy has many health benefits for both mother and child. We hope many more women will now consider eating more fish during pregnancy."
Fish has been linked to some benefits for pregnant women. They are a source of iodine, and mild iodine deficiencies during pregnancy have been associated with lower IQs and reading abilities for the children. Fish also contain iron, zinc and protein, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which can help in brain development according to the Mayo Clinic.