Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes increase the risk of heart disease in children

Researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia, discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy will have low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in their children, this is The type of cholesterol is good for the body, it protects and prevents heart disease in later life.

By the age of 8, children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy will have an HDL cholesterol ratio of about 1.3 (mmol / L) compared to a normal level of more than 1.5 (mmol / L) in children with mothers. smoking.

According to research results, the rate of cholesterol HDL is not dependent on whether children are exposed to cigarette smoke after birth, researchers believe that it is the exposure of the mother's cigarette smoke. Pregnancy, prenatal, is the most influential cause of the drop in HDL cholesterol ratio in the next years of child development. The results of the study were published online in the European Heart Journal, June 22, 2011, by Cardiology Professor David Celermajer, and colleagues, working at the University of Sydney, Australia. .

Professor David Celermajer " The results of our study emphasize that mothers who smoke during pregnancy will leave" imprints "of a set of unhealthy traits in children during the fetal stage of development. growing in the womb, can lead to heart attacks and strokes in the later years of the baby's development , "said Professor Celermajer.

" These" imprints "seem to last for at least 8 years and can be much longer ."

Professor Celermajer and colleagues examined the effect of mothers smoking during pregnancy on the thickness of the artery wall and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in a group of 405 8-year-old children. , healthy, born between 1997 and 1999.

Data was collected before and after the birth of children, including: information on mothers' smoking habits before and after pregnancy, children's breathing in other people's smoke, and on the way High, weight, waistline and blood pressure measurements. Ultrasound has been used to measure the thickness of arterial walls and take blood samples from 328 children to measure high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the blood.

Although smoking has no effect on the thickness of the artery walls of children, and the difference in HDL cholesterol levels, because mothers smoke while pregnant, measure about 0.15 mmol. / L. This difference is still statistically significant after adjusting for factors such as post-natal exposure, breastfeeding time, sedentary activity and body mass index.

Researchers believe that low levels of HDL cholesterol at age 8 can lead to serious later health effects on children.

" The ratio of cholesterol can be monitored from childhood to adulthood ," added Professor Celermajer. " Previous research has shown that when HDL cholesterol levels increase to 0.025 mmol / L, it also means that the effect of reducing the risk of coronary artery disease has increased by about 2% to 3% . "

" If we deduce in this direction, we can suggest a difference of 0.15 mmol / L between the child (A) of the mother smoking during pregnancy compared to the mother (B) of the mother. Smoking also means that the child (A) may be 10% to 15% more likely to develop coronary artery disease than the child (B). is the best calculation we have . "

Children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy will need to be considered particularly for other risk factors other than the risk of coronary artery disease such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels. harmful (LDL), and especially when these children themselves smoke.

" The only way to increase HDL cholesterol levels is to exercise regularly and use certain medications such as Niaxin. We will have to take the next long-term study to see if the babies of mothers suck. tobacco during this pregnancy, will continue to have lower HDL cholesterol levels in the long term, but this risk factor hypothesis is required in perseverance . "

One of the advantages of the study is that, in 8-year-old children, the usual factors that reduce HDL cholesterol, such as obesity and diabetes, are absent, and so we can deduce little Many direct effects of smoking on HDL cholesterol levels, Professor Celermajer concluded.