Effect of fatty fish or nut consumption on concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in overweight or obese men and women: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

While excess energy intake and physical inactivity constitute the obvious causes of body fat accumulation, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are novel factors that have been linked to cardiometabolic disorders. Major sources of POPs are animal fats including fatty fish. Given the putative protective effects of fish on cardiovascular disease, we explored whether high consumption of fatty fish increased serum concentrations of POPs.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Men and women aged 35-70 years with body mass index between 25 and 38 kg/m2 and at least 1 cardiometabolic component were randomized to high intakes of fatty fish (mostly farmed salmon, ∼630 g/week; n = 45), high intakes of nuts (∼200 g/week; n = 42) or a control group following their usual diet but restricting fatty fish and nuts for 6 months (n = 44). Concentrations of 15 POPs (5 organochlorinated compounds, 2 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and 8 non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls) and cardiometabolic risk factors were measured at baseline and end of the study. Results showed that changes in concentrations of individual and classes of POPs did not differ between the dietary groups and controls (p > 0.05). Among cardiometabolic risk factors HDL-cholesterol increased in the fatty fish group compared to controls (+0.10 mmol/L, CI (0.05-0.20); p = 0.005) while no changes were observed in the group consuming nuts.

CONCLUSION:

Fatty fish consumption for 6 months did not increase the serum concentrations of POPs in individuals with overweight or obesity and metabolic risk. While this finding appears reassuring regarding short-term intakes of farmed salmon, long term variations in POPs in adipose stores require further study.

• Authors: Sasa Dusanov, Mette Svendsen, Jerome Ruzzin, Hannu Kiviranta, Hanne L Gulseth, Tor O Klemsdal, Serena Tonstad
• Journal: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis) Vol. 30 Issue 3 Pg. 448-458 (03 09 2020) ISSN: 1590-3729 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32008913 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Environmental Pollutants
• Organic Chemicals

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Body Mass Index
• Consumer Product Safety
• Diet (adverse effects)
• Environmental Pollutants (adverse effects, blood)
• Female
• Fisheries
• Food Contamination
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Norway
• Nutritive Value
• Nuts (adverse effects)
• Obesity (blood, diagnosis)
• Organic Chemicals (adverse effects, blood)
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Salmon
• Seafood (adverse effects)
• Time Factors