Version July 2025
ANSWER —
Incorrect.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) endorses the benefits of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in diabetes [1]. The position statement "Nutrition Therapy Recommendations for the Management of Adults With Diabetes" states, "As recommended for the general public, an increase in foods containing long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) (from fatty fish)… is recommended for individuals with diabetes because of their beneficial effects on lipoproteins, prevention of heart disease, and associations with positive health outcomes in observational studies. The recommendation for the general public to eat fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times (two servings) per week is also appropriate for people with diabetes" [2].
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consuming fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week [3,4], noting that "regular fish consumption may facilitate the displacement of other foods higher in saturated and trans fatty acids from the diet, such as fatty meats and full-fat dairy products" [3].
Some types of fish may contain high levels of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and other environmental contaminants. Levels of these substances are generally highest in older, larger, predatory fish and marine mammals (see "Mercury toxicity"). This has engendered some concern about the role of fish consumption in a healthy diet [5], in particular about the consumption of fish during pregnancy. For nonpregnant adults, the benefits of modest fish consumption (one to two servings per week) greatly outweigh the risks. For females of childbearing age and pregnant adults, the benefits of modest fish intake also outweigh the risks. It should be emphasized that maternal intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the two very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish, is beneficial for the early neurologic development of children. It is important to avoid further decreases in the already low seafood intake among females of childbearing age and pregnant adults [5].
Fish intake guidelines during pregnancy are reviewed elsewhere. (See "Fish consumption and marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy".)
Return to the previous choice to try again. (See "Interactive diabetes case 18: A 61-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes and a recent change in diet (medical nutrition therapy) – A3" and "Interactive diabetes case 18: A 61-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes and a recent change in diet (medical nutrition therapy) – A5".)
