Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia

The risks and benefits associated with methyl mercury (meHg) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) from seafood consumption were assessed in adults and adolescents from Peninsular Malaysia. Seafood samples were collected for meHg analysis while the consumption survey was conducted among adults and p...

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Main Authors: Nurul Izzah Ahmad, Noraishah Mohammad Sham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Food Quality
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/4805298
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author Nurul Izzah Ahmad
Noraishah Mohammad Sham
author_facet Nurul Izzah Ahmad
Noraishah Mohammad Sham
author_sort Nurul Izzah Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description The risks and benefits associated with methyl mercury (meHg) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) from seafood consumption were assessed in adults and adolescents from Peninsular Malaysia. Seafood samples were collected for meHg analysis while the consumption survey was conducted among adults and pupils ≥10 years old. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC ω-3 PUFA; DHA and EPA) data were obtained from locally published articles. The estimated weekly intake (EWI), provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs), hazard quotient (HQ), and maximum safe weekly consumption (MSWC) were calculated for each seafood studied. The average range of LC ω-3 PUFA concentration was between 11.7 and 2,210.5 mg/100 g, where 27% of samples contained >500 mg/100 g and were predominant in pelagic fish and mollusks. MeHg concentrations in seafood samples ranged from 0.0426 to 0.4576 mg/kg of wet weight (WW) and showed significant variations between all species at a median concentration of 0.0621 ± 0.0573 mg/kg WW. Total seafood consumed by the adolescents was 84.7 ± 103.7 g/day, with significant marginal differences compared to the adult population at 90.5 ± 100 g/day. Long-tail tuna, yellow-stripe shad, slender shad, and long-tail shad contributed to a higher LC ω-3 PUFA intake than other species. These fish also contributed to a low HQ value level, lowering the risk of health effects. Mangrove red snapper has a low LC ω-3 PUFA content, but the HQ value was the highest of all, and it is advised to consume less frequently. Double the intake of cephalopod and a threefold increase in crustacean consumption would still minimize the meHg risk and may increase the intake of LC ω-3 PUFA.
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spelling doaj-art-e4bb4da2cec1486c90a600c80bff22e62025-02-03T07:26:20ZengWileyJournal of Food Quality1745-45572024-01-01202410.1155/2024/4805298Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular MalaysiaNurul Izzah Ahmad0Noraishah Mohammad Sham1Environmental Health Research Centre (EHRC)Environmental Health Research Centre (EHRC)The risks and benefits associated with methyl mercury (meHg) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) from seafood consumption were assessed in adults and adolescents from Peninsular Malaysia. Seafood samples were collected for meHg analysis while the consumption survey was conducted among adults and pupils ≥10 years old. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC ω-3 PUFA; DHA and EPA) data were obtained from locally published articles. The estimated weekly intake (EWI), provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs), hazard quotient (HQ), and maximum safe weekly consumption (MSWC) were calculated for each seafood studied. The average range of LC ω-3 PUFA concentration was between 11.7 and 2,210.5 mg/100 g, where 27% of samples contained >500 mg/100 g and were predominant in pelagic fish and mollusks. MeHg concentrations in seafood samples ranged from 0.0426 to 0.4576 mg/kg of wet weight (WW) and showed significant variations between all species at a median concentration of 0.0621 ± 0.0573 mg/kg WW. Total seafood consumed by the adolescents was 84.7 ± 103.7 g/day, with significant marginal differences compared to the adult population at 90.5 ± 100 g/day. Long-tail tuna, yellow-stripe shad, slender shad, and long-tail shad contributed to a higher LC ω-3 PUFA intake than other species. These fish also contributed to a low HQ value level, lowering the risk of health effects. Mangrove red snapper has a low LC ω-3 PUFA content, but the HQ value was the highest of all, and it is advised to consume less frequently. Double the intake of cephalopod and a threefold increase in crustacean consumption would still minimize the meHg risk and may increase the intake of LC ω-3 PUFA.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/4805298
spellingShingle Nurul Izzah Ahmad
Noraishah Mohammad Sham
Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
Journal of Food Quality
title Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
title_full Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
title_fullStr Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
title_short Evaluating Benefits and Risks of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Methyl Mercury from Fish and Seafood Consumption in Peninsular Malaysia
title_sort evaluating benefits and risks of polyunsaturated fatty acids and methyl mercury from fish and seafood consumption in peninsular malaysia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/4805298
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