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Fish consumption and its association with anaemia and metabolic disorder among Indian adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2025

Rajesh Kumar Rai Open the ORCID record for Rajesh Kumar Rai [Opens in a new window] ,
Sabri Bromage ,
Baban Bayan ,
Baishnaba Charan Ratha ,
Rockli Kim ,
Sourabh Kumar Dubey ,
Wanjiku N. Gichohi-Wainaina ,
Edward H. Allison ,
Cristiano M. Rossignoli  and
Arun Panemangalore Padiyar
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Rajesh Kumar Rai*
Affiliation:
Birbhum Population Project, Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri, West Bengal, India Human Nutrition Unit, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Sabri Bromage
Affiliation:
Community Nutrition Unit, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Baban Bayan
Affiliation:
WorldFish, New Delhi, India
Baishnaba Charan Ratha
Affiliation:
WorldFish, New Delhi, India
Rockli Kim
Affiliation:
Division of Health Policy & Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sourabh Kumar Dubey
Affiliation:
WorldFish, New Delhi, India
Wanjiku N. Gichohi-Wainaina
Affiliation:
WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia
Edward H. Allison
Affiliation:
WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia
Cristiano M. Rossignoli
Affiliation:
WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia
Arun Panemangalore Padiyar
Affiliation:
WorldFish, New Delhi, India
S. V. Subramanian
Affiliation:
Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, USA Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Christopher D. Golden
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Rajesh Kumar Rai; Email: rajesh.iips28@gmail.com
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Abstract

While increasing seafood consumption may help address micronutrient deficiencies and metabolic disorders, evidence supporting this recommendation in the Indian context remains limited and inconclusive. Using the nationally representative cross-sectional 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey dataset, we investigated the association of fish consumption frequency with anaemia and metabolic disorders (overweight/obesity, hypertension and hyperglycaemia) among adult men (aged 15–54 years) and women (aged 15–49 years) in India. A control function (CF) method was employed to examine the association in individuals who consumed fish daily and those who reported consuming fish daily/weekly. The analysis was restricted to non-vegetarians (who reported ever consuming egg, fish or meat). Overall, 86·9 % of men and 74·7 % of women were non-vegetarians. CF analysis revealed that both daily and daily/weekly fish consumption were associated with a reduced risk of anaemia among both men and women. Daily fish consumers exhibited increased likelihood of overweight/obesity (men: β: 0·405, 95 % CI: 0·074, 0·735, P: 0·017; women: β: 0·248, 95 % CI 0·125, 0·370, P < 0·001). Conversely, daily/weekly fish intake was associated with a reduced risk of overweight/obesity in men (β: −0·041, 95 % CI: −0·069, −0·013; P: 0·004). Daily/weekly fish consumption was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension and increased odds of hyperglycaemia among men. Fish consumption demonstrated a potentially protective relationship against hypertension in women, regardless of how often they consumed fish, while also being associated with a higher prevalence of hyperglycaemia. Indian adults can improve their health by eating more fish, which can help fight anaemia and may also reduce overweight/obesity and high blood pressure.

Keywords

Aquatic foodFishFood frequencyAnaemiaMetabolic disorder

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Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 134 , Issue 10 , 28 November 2025 , pp. 850 - 862
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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