Carbon in air pollution may cross placenta, affect baby's health

Carbon particles in polluted air can travel through a mother's placenta to the foetal side, which may lead to future health complications as the baby develops, according to a study. A team of researchers  identified the presence of black carbon particles that are part of combustion-derived particulate matter in all the placenta samples they screened from 28 new mothers.

The study,  suggests that the placenta, which is a temporary organ that presents a natural barrier between mother and foetus during the entire pregnancy may not be as impermeable to environmental pollutants as thought before.

The researchers used a new scanning technique to find carbon particles accumulated on the foetus-side of the placenta, close to where the umbilical cord begins.

The carbon particle load found in the placentae was positively associated with the residential exposure of the mothers to the pollutants during gestation, the study noted.

The results, according to the researchers, indicate that particulate matter in the environment can cross the placental barrier towards the foetus, even during early and vulnerable stages of pregnancy.

The researchers caution that the direct effects induced by combustion-related pollutants in the environment "are at least partially responsible for observed detrimental health effects from early life on-wards."

"If you think that these are problems of Asian mega-cities, read on -- data presented in this paper were collected in Belgium!" tweeted  an atmospheric analytical chemist, who was not involved in the study.

A study conducted last year by researchers in the UK found evidence of tiny particles of carbon, typically created by burning fossil fuels, in placentas.

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Pomegranate juice boosts brain development in unborn babies

Drinking pomegranate juice during pregnancy may improve brain development and connectivity in unborn babies.

Pomegranate juice is a particularly rich source of polyphenols which are known to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Polyphenols, which include tannic acid and ellagitannins, are part of a class of antioxidants found in many foods and beverages, including nuts, berries, red wine and teas.

“Our study provides preliminary evidence suggesting potential protective effects for newborns exposed to pomegranate juice while in the womb,” said study senior author.

“These findings warrant continued investigation into the potential neuroprotective effects of polyphenols in at-risk newborns, such as those with hypoxic-ischemic injury,” she said.

In the study, the team presents its preliminary findings from a clinical trial of expectant mothers whose babies were diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

In cases of IUGR, a baby in the womb measures small for its gestational age, often because of issues with the placenta, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the growing foetus. One out of every 10 babies is considered to have IUGR.

The current randomised, controlled study enrolled 78 mothers with IUGR diagnosed at 24-43 weeks’ gestation.

Women were randomised to receive eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily or a taste/calorie matched placebo that was polyphenol free. Women drank the juice daily from enrolment until delivery.

The team measured several aspects of brain development and injury, including infant brain macrostructure, microstructural organization and functional connectivity.

While the team did not observe differences in brain macrostructure, they did find regional differences in white matter microstructure and functional connectivity.

“These measures tell us about how the brain is developing functionally. We saw no difference in brain growth and baby growth, but we did see improvement in cabling network and brain development measured by synchronous blood flow and visual development of the brain,” she said.

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