Fish liver and seagull eggs, vitamin D-rich foods with a shadow: results from the Norwegian Fish and Game Study.
METHODS
Fish liver, fish liver oil, oily fish and seagull eggs have been major sources of vitamin D for the coastal population of Norway. They also provide dioxin and polychlorinated dioxin-like compounds (dl-compounds), which may interfere with vitamin D homeostasis. We investigated whether serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) might be compromised by concomitant intake of dl-compounds.


RESULTS
We studied 182 adults participating in the Norwegian Fish and Game Study. Participants who consumed fish liver and/or seagull eggs had higher dl-compound intake and blood concentrations than non-consumers (p < 0.001). Vitamin D intake was higher (p < 0.001), whereas serum 25(OH)D was lower (p = 0.029) in consumers than in non-consumers. Among non-consumers, vitamin D intake was associated with serum 25(OH)D (β=1.06; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.63). This association was weaker among consumers (β = 0.52; 95% CI: -0.05, 1.08), but strengthened when adjusted for retinol intake (β = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.12, 1.21). The association between vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D did not seem to be compromised by intake of dl-compounds.


CONCLUSIONS
To secure adequate vitamin D status while keeping the intake of dioxins and dl-polychlorinated biphenyls low, a healthy diet should include both supplemental vitamin D and oily fish. Despite high nutrient content, dietary fish liver and seagull eggs should be restricted, due to dl-compounds and possible vitamin A-D antagonism.
Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. bryndis.eva.birgisdottir@fhi.no
Bryndis E
BE
Birgisdottir
Anne L
AL
Brantsaeter
Helen E
HE
Kvalem
Helle K
HK
Knutsen
Margaretha
M
Haugen
Jan
J
Alexander
Ragna B
RB
Hetland
Lage
L
Aksnes
Helle M
HM
Meltzer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004032:Diet; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis
D004147:Dioxins; D005395:Fish Oils; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls