Can you eat tuna while pregnant?

Tuna is a rich source of nutrients that are especially beneficial during pregnancy. The major nutrients found in tuna include:
Protein: Protein plays a very important role in all the development processes of the body. Consuming too little protein during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, restrict the growth of the fetus in the uterus, and cause the baby to be born with low birth weight. On the other hand, overeating protein can have a similar negative effect. EPA and DHA: These long-chain Omega-3 fats play an important role in your baby's brain and eye development. Omega-3s may also reduce the risk of preterm birth, enhance fetal development, and reduce rates of maternal depression and allergies in children. Vitamin D: Tuna contains small amounts of vitamin D, which is important for boosting immunity and bone health. Consuming the right levels of Vitamin D can also reduce the risk of miscarriage and preeclampsia, a complication caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Vitamin B12: This nutrient has the ability to optimize the development of functions in the nervous system and create red blood cells that transport protein and oxygen throughout the body. Consuming too low a concentration of Vitamin B12 during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects, and other pregnancy complications. A 100-gram serving of canned tuna provides about 32% of your daily protein intake (RDI), 9% DV for iron and 107% DV for Vitamin B12.
Such a serving also contains about 25 mg of EPA and 197 mg of DHA, accounting for about 63% and 100% of the recommended daily nutrient intake, respectively, for pregnant women.
Pregnant women who cannot eat tuna due to food allergies, as well as religious or ethical reasons, should ensure that they get enough of the above nutrients from other dietary sources or supplements .

Health experts recommend that for women who regularly eat tuna in their daily diet should continue to maintain this eating habit during pregnancy. However, due to the mercury content in tuna, they should not consume too much during pregnancy.

Although it is a naturally occurring compound, most of the mercury found in fish is the result of industrial pollution and the level of mercury in fish tends to increase year by year.
All types of fish almost have a certain amount of mercury, the larger the fish, the older the fish, the higher the position in the food chain, the higher the amount of mercury. Tuna is a predatory fish with good growth and longevity.
As a result, they accumulate significant amounts of mercury in their meat. High levels of mercury during pregnancy can harm the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. This can lead to negative problems for the unborn baby, the most common include:
Mental retardation, low IQ, which interferes with learning, Slow development of skills, Slow development of speech Impaired memory and concentration Vision loss High blood pressure or heart problems in adulthood In more severe cases, consuming high amounts of mercury during pregnancy can lead to loss of smell, vision or hearing in infants, as well as an increased chance of birth defects, seizures, coma, and even infant death. In addition, pregnant women should avoid eating raw tuna to minimize the risk of infection with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can seriously affect the growth and development of babies.

The risk of having high levels of mercury that can affect pregnancy is due to a process that accumulates from food. Different types of fish contain different amounts of mercury.
Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant women consume between 225 and 340 grams of fish and seafood per week, including but not more than either of these conditions. :
340-gram canned tuna or other low-mercury fish, such as anchovies, cod, tilapia or salmon 12-gram yellowfin, whitefin, fish albacore tuna or other medium-mercury fish, such as halibut, mahi-mahi, tilefish, or snapper Furthermore, pregnant women are encouraged to avoid bigeye tuna and other varieties entirely. other high-mercury fish, such as swordfish, shark, marlin, king mackerel, and tilefish.
Many international food agencies have also made recommendations regarding the consumption of tuna during pregnancy. Many varieties are very similar to FDA guidelines, although due to regional geography, the list of tuna that is considered safe to consume varies from country to country.
Therefore, to maximize the benefits of eating tuna while minimizing any risks, pregnant women are encouraged to avoid eating raw tuna. Low-mercury tuna and fish should be prioritized while avoiding high-mercury varieties.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
Reference article Healthline.com