Association between consumption of small fish and all-cause mortality among Japanese: the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Although small fish are an important source of micronutrients, the relationship between their intake and mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the association between intake of small fish and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Design: We used the data from a cohort study in Japan. The frequency of the intake of small fish was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality according to the frequency of the intake of small fish by sex were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard model with adjustments for covariates. Setting: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study. Participants: A total of 80,802 participants (34,555 males and 46,247 females), aged 35–69 years. Results: During a mean follow-up of 9.0 years, we identified 2,482 deaths including 1,495 cancer-related deaths. The intake of small fish was statistically significantly and inversely associated with the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in females. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) in females for all-cause mortality according to the intake were 0.68 (0.55–0.85) for intakes 1–3 times/month, 0.72 (0.57–0.90) for 1–2 times/week, and 0.69 (0.54–0.88) for ≥3 times/week, compared with the rare intake. The corresponding HRs (95% CIs) in females for cancer mortality were 0.72 (0.54–0.96), 0.71 (0.53–0.96), and 0.64 (0.46–0.89), respectively. No statistically significant association was observed in males. Conclusions: Intake of small fish may reduce the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in Japanese females.