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Traditional living in the Amazon: Extended breastfeeding, fish consumption, mercury exposure and neurodevelopment

2016; Informa; Volume: 43; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/03014460.2016.1189962

1464-5033

Rejane C. Marques, Luciana Abreu, José Vicente Elias Bernardi, José G. Dórea,

Child Nutrition and Water Access

Features of traditional living in the Amazon Basin (high fish consumption and long breastfeeding) are likely to expose children to Mercury (Hg).To study neurodevelopment in 690 children in relation to prolonged breastfeeding and mercury exposure.Three groups of breastfeeding children were formed: Group 1 (breastfed for 6 months), Group 2 (7-12 months) and Group 3 (extending up to 24 months). Neurodevelopment was assessed as age of walking, age of talking and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-BSID. Mercury exposure was assessed from Thimerosal-containing vaccines and fish consumption from hair Hg (HHg).HHg increased in children and decreased in mothers at 24 months. Frequency of fish consumption was significantly correlated with maternal HHg at birth (Spearman's r = 0.8583; p = 0.0001); likewise, there was a significant correlation between duration of breastfeeding and children's HHg (Spearman's r = 0.15; p = 0.0018). Extended breastfeeding did not influence the Mental Development Index-MDI or Psychomotor Development Index-PDI, but maternal education and HHg (marker of fish consumption) interacted positively and significantly with both. Frequency of maternal fish consumption and education had a positive association with BSID scores; it is speculated that maternal education and nutrients in fish have an opposing effect on Hg exposure.