For Immediate Release:   March 1, 2005

New Report Examines Recent Alarm About
Fish-Mercury and Cardiac Health

No convincing scientific evidence that trace amounts of mercury in fish
could overwhelm the positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Washington, DC — A new review of the peer-reviewed literature by the Center for Science and Public Policy ( www.scienceandpolicy.org ) questions the claim that trace amounts of “mercury” in fish could overwhelm the positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acids, causing cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and even death in adults.

The “emerging evidence” is based on highly questionable studies including the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease (KIHD) Risk Factor Study (Salonen et al. 1995, 2000), and a study of 684 men from eight European countries and Israel (Guallar et al. 2002). The available evidence suggests that numerous risk factors other than methylmercury from fish more likely explains most of the findings in Salonen et al. (1995, 2000) and Guallar et al. (2002).  

Additionally, the Salonen study fails to meet the minimum confidence standards that constitute good epidemiologic evidence. Also, there are reasonable concerns that the Finnish results are unique only to the lifestyle and dietary habits of the population from Eastern Finland which has the world's highest death rate from CHD. This is why the results are not directly applicable for the US population.

The Guallar et al. results have been challenged by Yoshizawa et al. (2002) and Plante and Babo (2003).

Plante and Babo observed:   “We find it difficult to reconcile this finding with published data...”   They concluded that Guallar's suggestion of modifying fish intake to avoid risk of CHD is “ill founded and may do more harm than good.”

Media-fed alarmism (and lack of critical reporting) over mercury may be causing a dangerous fall off in the already inadequate levels of U.S. fish consumption.

“At the same time, the American Heart Association has reviewed the benefits and risks of regular consumption of fish and fish oils. The review concludes that fish and fish oils help prevent cardiovascular disease including fatal and non-fatal heart attacks, strokes, sudden cardiac death, and coronary artery disease (angina).   A careful examination of the complete literature simply doesn't support recent negative claims,” Robert Ferguson, Executive Director of the Center for Science and Public Policy in Washington, D.C. said.