Fish consumption (Hair Mercury) and nutritional status of Amazonian Amer-Indian Children

Abstract

Fish are abundant and important dietary items for the Amer-Indians, and total hair-Hg (HHg) concentration is a reliable marker of fish consumption. We studied the impact of fish consumption (HHg) on the nutritional status of Indian children of Eastern Amazonia. Weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) was measured, and HHg was determined in 203 children younger than 10 years of age in three villages. There was significantly higher fish consumption in Kayabi children (16.55 microg Hg/g; SD, 11.44) than in children of the Munduruku villages of Missão-Cururu (4.76 microg Hg/g; SD, 2.09) and Kaburua (2.87 microg Hg/g; SD, 2.13). Anthropometric indices showed WHZ means of -0.27, -0.22, and 0.40, respectively, for Kayabi, Missão-Cururu and Kaburua villages. Despite a different pattern of fish-protein consumption between tribes, there was no significant correlation between WHZ and HHg concentrations (r2 = 0.0079; P < 0.2021). Dietary differences among Amazonian tribes can be traced and used in measuring health outcomes. Higher fish consumption, although important for Kayabis, was compensated by other protein sources by the Kaburua villagers.

A nutritional dilemma: fish consumption, mercury exposure and growth of children in Amazonian Bolivia

“…In another paper, the same team tried to demonstrate a positive effect on growth of fish consumption, judged from H-Hg. They failed to demonstrate a consistent pattern as we did here (Dorea et al 2005a). This may be due to the fact that they did not segregate their population into different age groups.…”

Hydroelectric reservoir inundation (Rio Madeira Basin, Amazon) and changes in traditional lifestyle: impact on growth and neurodevelopment of pre-school children

“…It has been shown previously that among native Amazonian tribes, differences in the rate of fish consumption (127 g fish/d v. 30 g fish/d) were compensated by other protein sources that showed no significant correlation with the attained growth of Amer-Indian children (27) . Subsequent studies with an urban Amazonian population indicated that the habitual dominance of fish consumption, although important for some nutrients, can be successfully replaced by other animal food sources (28) .…”

Interações Mercúrio-Selênio: Uma Abordagem Integrada De Avaliação De Exposição Ao Mercúrio Em Populações Ribeirinhas No Município De Porto Velho, Rondônia

“…Existem estudos onde é sugerido que os níveis de Hg em cabelo podem ser um indicador da frequência de consumo de peixe (Dórea et al, 2005 Embora os resultados dos estudos sejam contraditórios, se reconhece que o metilmercúrio é uma substância de alto risco para crianças, por ser capaz de atravessar a barreira hematoencefálica e transplacentária (Who, 1990) Consequentemente, a exposição pode começar na etapa da gestação, através da alimentação da mãe, e atingir o sistema nervoso central da criança, que está em desenvolvimento nesse momento, podendo assim, causar danos irreversíveis no feto, embora a mãe não apresente sintomas de intoxicação (Counter e Buchanan, 2004;Davidson et al, 2004;Crespo-Lópeza et al, 2005;Mergler et al, 2007).…”