Summary: A new study from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston finds that oxidative stress from things like smoking, obesity, poor diet and environmental toxins can cause the placenta and fetal tissue to prematurely age and result in preterm birth.
By Julie Revelant | Posted: May 15, 2014
It's no surprise that smoking and drinking, unhealthy eating habits and extra weight aren't good for you or your baby, and although experts have known that these factors may cause preterm birth (a birth before 37 weeks), new research shows for the first time why these factors actually play a role.
It all has to do with oxidative stress: Our bodies use oxygen to break down the food we eat, and this process produces free radicals (we're also exposed to free radicals from external sources like X-rays, ozone, cigarette smoking, air pollutants and industrial chemicals). That's where our body's antioxidant system kick in, using enzymes, vitamins and minerals to neutralize free radicals.
The problem, however, is "when oxidative stress gets out of control, it can cause a large number of damages," according to Dr. Ramkumar Menon, an assistant professor in the UTMB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and lead researcher of the study, published in the American Journal of Pathology.
High oxidative stress damages the lipids, proteins and DNA in our bodies. And during pregnancy, the damage shows up as aging of the placenta and of the placenta membranes, or the innermost lining of the uterine cavity, which is fetal tissue. This aging causes premature rupture of the membranes — aka water breaking — which happens in 30 to 40 percent of women.
According to the March of Dimes 2013 premature birth report card, one out of 9 infants is born prematurely in the U.S., and although the rate is on the decline, preterm birth can cause babies to have a lifetime of health problems.
While all of the causes of preterm birth aren't exactly understood, oxidative stress is caused by some factors women can control — smoking, drinking, obesity, diet, infection — along with some that are harder to control, like pollution and environmental toxins. Although it's likely that chemicals found in cleaning products, plastics and cosmetics may be a factor, for this study researchers looked at flame retardant chemicals, which are found in everything from furniture to electronics.
"We have found in the amniotic fluid of women with preterm birth, they have high doses of these flame retardant chemicals," Menon said.
In the past, researchers have looked at the role of antioxidant supplements during pregnancy to prevent preterm birth, yet they were unsuccessful. "It's not oxidative stress, it's the oxidative stress-induced damages of the similar elements that actually lead to aging of the tissue," Menon said.
Although the link to preterm birth is now clear, even if physicians tell women to lose weight, quit smoking and eat better, it won't prevent preterm birth. "The damage has already been done," Menon said. Nevertheless, the study will likely be instrumental in helping researchers to identify new markers that can be used to prevent premature aging and in turn, prevent preterm birth.
So although there is nothing you can do to reverse the damage from oxidative stress, there are things that may reduce your exposure moving forward to the known factors. Either way, they're smart choices for a healthy pregnancy:
- Kick the habit. Smoking and drinking not only affect your fertility, they can also cause serious health problems for you and your baby, so stop today.
- Eat right and exercise. Poor diet, lack of exercise and being overweight can cause pregnancy complications and affect your baby's health now and in the future. Be sure to gain the recommended amount of weight, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and get moving.
- Get healthy. It's important to have optimal health before getting pregnant, which means dealing with infections like UTI's and STD's and managing health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Avoid toxins. It's hard to completely steer clear of flame retardants, phthalates, parabans and other chemicals — but you can limit your exposure. Avoid standard plastic water bottles and food containers and choose BPA-free, glass or stainless steel instead. Consider buying organic baby products and cosmetics, and keep your home free of dust (which is how a lot of flame retardant is ingested) by using a vacuum with a HEPA-filter. Also try to avoid buying or using foam products when possible (found in some furniture, mattresses, baby products) as they usually contain flame retardant.
Bottom line: If your baby is born prematurely, don't blame yourself. Experts agree, there's no way to predict who will be affected and in about half of all cases, it's not clear why it happens.
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