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Eating fish during pregnancy

In Dr. Nasrallah’s Editorial on reduc­ing the risk of schizophrenia in a child (For couples seeking to conceive, offer advice on reducing the risk of schizo­phrenia, Current Psychiatry, From the Editor, August 2014, p. 11-12, 44; [http://bit.ly/1zAcnUq]), he advised a couple to “Get a good obstetrician well before conception; get the mother immunized against infections; eat a lot of fish (omega-3 fatty acids)…”

Some people are concerned about mercury levels in fish and suggest limiting fish consumption during pregnancy. I do not follow this litera­ture and do not know which fish to recommend and avoid and the cur­rent status of the evidence. If people still believe this, should I suggest omega-3 fatty acid supplements instead of eating a lot of fish?

Oommen Mammen, MD
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Dr. Nasrallah responds

I recommend wild salmon as the best source of omega-3 fatty acids from fish. I avoid farmed salmon because that’s where some contamination has been reported. Absent the availability of wild salmon, I rec­ommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Henry A. Nasrallah, MD
Professor and Chair Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

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In Dr. Nasrallah’s Editorial on reduc­ing the risk of schizophrenia in a child (For couples seeking to conceive, offer advice on reducing the risk of schizo­phrenia, Current Psychiatry, From the Editor, August 2014, p. 11-12, 44; [http://bit.ly/1zAcnUq]), he advised a couple to “Get a good obstetrician well before conception; get the mother immunized against infections; eat a lot of fish (omega-3 fatty acids)…”

Some people are concerned about mercury levels in fish and suggest limiting fish consumption during pregnancy. I do not follow this litera­ture and do not know which fish to recommend and avoid and the cur­rent status of the evidence. If people still believe this, should I suggest omega-3 fatty acid supplements instead of eating a lot of fish?

Oommen Mammen, MD
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Dr. Nasrallah responds

I recommend wild salmon as the best source of omega-3 fatty acids from fish. I avoid farmed salmon because that’s where some contamination has been reported. Absent the availability of wild salmon, I rec­ommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Henry A. Nasrallah, MD
Professor and Chair Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

In Dr. Nasrallah’s Editorial on reduc­ing the risk of schizophrenia in a child (For couples seeking to conceive, offer advice on reducing the risk of schizo­phrenia, Current Psychiatry, From the Editor, August 2014, p. 11-12, 44; [http://bit.ly/1zAcnUq]), he advised a couple to “Get a good obstetrician well before conception; get the mother immunized against infections; eat a lot of fish (omega-3 fatty acids)…”

Some people are concerned about mercury levels in fish and suggest limiting fish consumption during pregnancy. I do not follow this litera­ture and do not know which fish to recommend and avoid and the cur­rent status of the evidence. If people still believe this, should I suggest omega-3 fatty acid supplements instead of eating a lot of fish?

Oommen Mammen, MD
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Dr. Nasrallah responds

I recommend wild salmon as the best source of omega-3 fatty acids from fish. I avoid farmed salmon because that’s where some contamination has been reported. Absent the availability of wild salmon, I rec­ommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Henry A. Nasrallah, MD
Professor and Chair Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

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Current Psychiatry - 13(12)
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Current Psychiatry - 13(12)
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33
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Eating fish during pregnancy
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Eating fish during pregnancy
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