Instead of increasing risk of autism eating fish twice a week during pregnancy may actually give newborns several nutritional benefits suggests a new research. The findings -- published in journal Molecular Autism -- found no evidence to support claims that mercury in fish is linked to the development of autism or autistic traits in newborns. All species of fish contain traces of mercury which can harm brain development but we have found that the health benefits of fish probably from nutrients such as vitamin D Omega-3 fatty acids selenium and iodine outweigh the risks from mercury said co-author Caroline Taylor