Habitual fish consumption and risk of incident stroke: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk prospective population study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between fish consumption and stroke risk.


METHODS
Prospective population cohort study.


METHODS
Norfolk, UK cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk).


METHODS
Subjects were 24 312 men and women aged 40-79 years who had no previous history of stroke at baseline.


METHODS
Fish consumption was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline in 1993-1997 and stroke incidence ascertained to 2004.


RESULTS
A total of 421 incident strokes were identified (mean follow-up=8.5 years, total person-years=209 238). There were no significant relationships between total fish, shellfish or fish roe consumption and risk of stroke in men and women after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, cholesterol, diabetes, physical activity, alcohol consumption, fish oil supplement use and total energy intake using Cox regression analyses. Oily fish consumption was significantly lower in women who subsequently had a stroke (odds ratio (OR) for consumers vs. non-consumers=0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.94, P=0.02). The trend in men was similar but not significant (OR for consumers vs. non-consumers=0.88, 95% CI 0.65-1.19, P=0.41).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no consistent relationship between fish consumption and stroke in this British population. Inconsistencies in the observed health effects of fish consumption in different populations may reflect different patterns and type of fish consumed and preparation methods.
Myint
Phyo K
PK
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, UK. Pkyawmyint@aol.com
Welch
Ailsa A
AA
Bingham
Sheila A
SA
Luben
Robert N
RN
Wareham
Nicholas J
NJ
Day
Nicholas E
NE
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3