Study heart defects in babies due to obesity

Obesity in Pregnant Women: Risk of Heart Failure in Babies? In a recent study by US researchers, obesity in pregnant women should increase the risk of congenital heart disease in their babies.

In a recent study by US researchers, obesity in pregnant women should increase the risk of congenital heart disease in their babies.The scientists around Dr. James L. Mills of the National Health Institute Bethesda, New York, knew that obesity in pregnant women could cause a range of problems. One of them can be a defect of the neural tube, as the scientists in their US journal say „American Journal of Clinical Nutrition“ published study. The neural tube is in embryos the attachment for the later spinal cord and the brain. Defects here are e.g. Spina bifida (open back) - in this case, the neural tube does not close properly and anencephaly-there are missing predominant parts of the brain and skullcap.

And now the researchers wanted to investigate the influence of obesity on future congenital heart defects. To do so, they used the data from 10 years (1993 to 2003) of the Congenital Malformation Registry in the state of New York (not New York City) on the maternal body mass index (BMI), types of congenital heart disease, and other risk factors. About 7400 mothers from children with congenital heart disease and about 56300 unaffected control cases were examined.

Thereafter, the risk of congenital heart defects in babies with obese mothers during pregnancy should be increased by 15 percent compared to mothers with an average body mass index. The incidence of obesity was also investigated by the scientists from Bethesda: with a low severity there is a risk of 10 percent, with severe obesity (BMI greater than 30) the risk increases to more than 30 percent. The researchers point out that it would be useful to investigate whether reducing weight in pregnant mothers reduces the risk of congenital heart disease. (Thorsten Fischer, Naturopath Osteopathy, 11.04.2010)

Continue reading:
Abstract of the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Spina bifida (open back)
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