Contributions (in 2005) of marine and fresh water products (finfish and shellfish, seafood, wild and farmed) to the French dietary intakes of vitamins D and B12, selenium, iodine and docosahexaenoic acid: impact on public health

Primary objective To assess the contributions of seafood (finfish and shellfish, wild and farmed, freshwater and marine) to the French recommended daily intakes of dietary elements that are particularly abundant in these foods. Methods and procedures We first calculated the concentrations of each of these elements by critical analysis of a large body of published data. We then determined the consumption of seafood in France (in 2005) using a modified version of the method of measuring dietary intake defined by the FAO. Main outcomes and results The percentages of the French recommended daily intakes obtained from seafood species are: 44% for vitamin D, 65% for vitamin B12, 24% for selenium, 21% for iodine and 156% for an omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (159% referring to the French AFSSA seafood data). Conclusions French people must increase their seafood consumption to counteract disorders arising due to the demonstrated low concentrations of these nutrients in their usual diets; this could help overcome a potentially major public health problem.