Health & Baby

Genes May Affect Nutrients in Breast Milk

Dietary Sources of DHA continued...

However, cautions have been raised about mercury levels in some fish. The U.S. government says that while fish have health benefits, high mercury levels make certain fish not appropriate for people including young children and women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning to conceive.

The FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency offer these guidelines for those women:

• Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
• Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
• Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
• Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna, has more mercury than canned light tuna. So when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
• Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't eat any other fish during that week.

The same recommendations -- with smaller portions -- apply to young children.

DHA is also found in fish oil supplements and in some infant formulas.