NA - Interaction between n-3 fatty acids and methylmercury (MeHg) using the fat-1 transgenic mice model

In the proposed pilot study, mice (wild-type with a n-6 to n-3 ratio of up to 50 to 1, i.e. similar to many western countries and transgenic fat-1 mice with a n-6:n-3 ratio close to 1 to 1will be used as a model of methylmercury effects in humans. Insofar as in vivo neurodevelopmental toxicity is concerned, mice are considered a very good model, exhibiting similar effects at dose levels close to those observed in humans. Similarly, with regards to neurological effects of methylmercury intoxication, rodent s were considered to be excellent surrogates for human neurotoxicity. However, it is not known whether the ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids has an impact on the neurological effects of methylmercury. Therefore, the fat-1 mice model is a valuable tool in order to clarify the relationship between the neuroprotective effects of n-3 fatty acids and the neurotoxic effects methylmercury. Media focus veers rapidly and unpredictably from the beneficial effects of fish consumption to fish being unsafe owing to their e levated levels of potentially toxic contaminants. Authorities do not have sufficient knowledge to reliably inform and reassure consumers concerning these issues. Information regarding contaminant and nutrient bioavailability in seafood, and the amount req uired to exert a biological effect in humans, is limited and can lead to the establishment of maximum permitted levels of contaminants or nutrient intake recommendations that are inadequate.Several recent publications have recommended the consumption of o ne salmon meal a month based on the conservative United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment approach. In contrast, the UK Food Standards Agency recommends the consumption of two fish portions per week, with one being an oily fish such a s herring or Atlantic salmon. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for further research.