(OR20-03-26) Maternal Early Pregnancy Blood Heavy Metal(loid)s and Low Fish Consumption in Relation to Child Dyslipidemia at the Age of 7 Years: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: Exposure to selected heavy metal(loid)s may increase risk of dyslipidemia, while n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease its risk. We sought to investigate whether maternal prenatal fish consumption interact with maternal heavy metal(loid)s exposure on the risk of child dyslipidemia at the age of 7 years.

Methods: In 1393 mothers and their children from the Shanghai Birth Cohort, we measured mercury (Hg), lead and other 11 metals and metalloids of maternal early pregnancy blood and newborn cord blood samples, and collected food frequency questionnaire at early pregnancy. Children’s fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols, lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)], apolipoprotein E (Apo E), apolipoprotein A (Apo A), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were measured at age 7 years.

Results: Blood Hg was detectable in all mothers and children. Early pregnancy blood Hg concentrations (µg/L) on natural logarithmic scale was associated with higher risk of elevated fasting serum TC≥5.17 mmol/L, TG≥1.12 mmol/L, LDL≥3.36 mmol/L at the age of 7 years. Among mothers with sea-fish intake < 1, and 1-3 time/week, Log Hg (µg/L) was associated with 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.38), and 0.30 (0.16, 0.45) mmol/L higher child serum TC, respectively, but no association was observed among maternal sea-fish intake >3 time/week (interaction test p=0.003). Similar results were observed in river-fish intake (interaction test p=0.049 for the >3 time/week). Stronger positive association of maternal blood Hg with child serum LDL, non-HDL, and Apo B were also observed in sea-fish or river-fish intake < 1 time/week, and 1-3 times/week, but no associations in the group of > 3 time/week.

Conclusions: In this prospective study, despite relatively low maternal Hg exposure, blood Hg during early pregnancy was positively associated with higher serum lipids in children at the age of 7 years, and maternal higher consumption of fish may have counteracting effect. Our study implies a benefit to children’s metabolic health from pregnant women consuming fish that is low in mercury but high in DHA and EPA.

Funding Sources: This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81961128023); Shanghai Municipal Education Commission—Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant (20152518)