Regular Consumption of Sushi Increases The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

A latest study uncovers the negative effect of regular consumption of sushi- a popular Japanese food.

The new finding by a team of international researchers comes as a blow to those who consider the low calorie meal sushi to be healthy. According to the study, people are exposing themselves to high levels of methylmercury by regularly consuming sushi. Higher sushi intake could lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The exposure of mercury in humans is due to excessive consumption of fish. This excess of methylmercury not only elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease but also triggers poor neurodevelopmental deficits and poor cognitive performance. Methylmercury is also present  in marlin, swordfish, tuna and shark.

The study found that Atlantic Bluefin or Bigeye have high levels of this toxic chemical whereas sushi made of salmons, eel and crab have lower levels of methylmercury.

Though the consumption of this low-calorie meal has doubled in several countries including the U.S., there hasn't been much research on the health benefits of this cuisine.

The researchers report that, "In the [United States], most attention to the risks from contaminants in fish has been devoted to either self-caught fish or to commercial fish available in fish markets and grocery stores. There is a growing trend for the consumption of sushi [and] there is very little quantitative data on either consumption patterns of sushi or contaminants in sushi," source University Herald.

Fish are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids that lower the cholesterol level and lower the risk of cancers and also occurrence of heart disease, blood pressure, stroke and pre-term delivery. However, high levels of methylmercury cancel out the benefits of eating fish.

For this study, the researchers interviewed more than 1,200 people and enquired about their consumption of sushi and other fish products. They then analyzed the mercury levels in the sushi samples that were taken from U.S. The researchers noticed that nearly 92 percent of the participants consumed an average of 5 fish and fish sushi meals per month.

They also noticed that nearly 10 percent of the study participants had surpassed the Center for Disease Control Minimal Risk Level and the World Health Organization Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of methylmercury.

The researchers were not surprised to see that the large tuna like the Atlantic Bluefin or Bigeye contain the maximum mercury levels. Population of these prized tuna fish is decreasing due to high demand.

The finding was placed in the Journal of Risk Research.