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Session: Seafood Access and Intake for Child Health and Development (Oral 20)

(OR20-02-24) The Association Between Maternal Pb Exposure From Seafood Consumption and Child Neurodevelopment: A Systematic Review

Monday, July 1, 2024

11:00 AM – 11:12 AM CT

Location: W183

Presenting Author(s)

Arin A. Balalian, DrPH MD MPH (he/him/his)

Systematic Reviewer
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, & Nutrition Evidence Center
New York, New York, United States

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

MS

Maureen K. Spill

Nutrition and Health Program Lead
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center, United States
SS

Sanjoy Saha, Ph.D.

Assistant Research Scientist
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
RT

Rachel C. Thoerig, PhD

systematic review analyst
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center
Ft. Worth, Texas, United States
RT

Rupal Trivedi, PhD, MS, RDN

Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center, United States
JD

Julie S. Davis

Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, & Nutrition Evidence Center, United States
MF

Margaret Foster

Texas A&M University, United States
Amanda MacFarlane, PhD (she/her/hers)

Director
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center
Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Objectives: Seafood provides crucial macro and micronutrients for children's development acquired during the perinatal phase through pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, seafood may contain toxins, such as lead (Pb). Studies have reported an inverse link between Pb exposure and children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes. Yet, evidence on the impact of Pb exposure from seafood during pregnancy and lactation on children's neurodevelopment remains unclear. This systematic review was conducted to assess this association and inform the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee on The Role of Seafood in Child Growth and Development.

Methods: This review included interventions and prospective cohort studies in healthy pregnant or lactating individuals from countries with a high or very high Human Development Index and neurodevelopment outcomes in children (0-18 years old). Studies had to measure seafood and Pb exposure, analyzing their link with each other or their associations with the outcome. Three databases were searched and records were dual-screened at the title, abstract, and full-text levels. Cochrane risk of bias tools were used to assess the risk of bias in included studies.

Results: Three articles from 2 prospective cohorts in Asia were included examining cognition and motor development in children aged 12, 36, and 60 months. In one cohort, a significant negative association between maternal Pb and motor development was found at 12mo but attenuated at the 36mo follow-up. Results from the other cohort did not show a significant association between maternal Pb levels during pregnancy and IQ in 5y old children. Apart from Pb, across studies, higher fish intake was associated with positive developmental outcomes at different ages, though significance varied.

Conclusions: Overall, evidence did not suggest a detrimental impact of maternal Pb levels from seafood sources on child neurodevelopment. Seafood intake was associated with better neurodevelopmental scores. Findings are limited due to the small number of studies. Future studies in diverse populations will enhance understanding of this association.

Funding Sources: NASEM