Shellfish consumption and health: A comprehensive review of human studies and recommendations for enhanced public policy

Shellfish, including various species of mollusks (e.g., clams, oysters, and mussels) and crustaceans (e.g., shrimp and crab), have been a cornerstone of healthy dietary recommendations. However, beyond providing basic nutrition needs, their health-promoting effects have been suggested to include inflammation reduction and prevention of various chronic non-communicable diseases. Currently, studies on the association between shellfish consumption and health outcomes have reported conflicting results. The present comprehensive review summarized the latest studies on shellfish consumption and synthesized the available evidence on the potential health benefits or risks of shellfish consumption. The findings demonstrated that shellfish consumption may increase the risk of hyperuricemia and gout but may not increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and thyroid cancer. Adequate evidence is lacking on the association between shellfish consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, oral cancer, endometriosis, hip fracture, cognitive function, wheeze, eczema and food allergy. Raw shellfish consumption may cause gastroenteritis and other diseases infected by bacteria or viruses. This review thus provides consumers and other relevant stakeholders with the latest evidence-based information on the potential benefits and risks of shellfish consumption.