An audit of seafood consumption awareness during pregnancy and its association with maternal and fetal outcomes in a Turkish population

This study was conducted to audit maternal seafood intake awareness during pregnancy and to determine whether there is an association between fish consumption and various pregnancy outcomes. In total, 553 low-risk and healthy pregnant women were given a questionnaire concerning fish consumption. Pregnant women who developed gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-term labour-birth, macrosomia, low birth weight and small for gestational age were analysed. Fatty fish consumers tended to have higher birth weight infants than lean fish consumers. Low fish consumption was significantly correlated with low birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. The more fatty fish that the low fish consumers consumed, the more likely they were to have SGA infants. Fish consumption did not have an impact on the development of gestational diabetes mellitus, macrosomia or pre-term labour-birth. Low fish consumption during pregnancy may be associated with the development of low birth weight and SGA infants in a Turkish population.