Lead and pregnancy: risk of obesity in newborns
According to a recent study by the University of Michigan (United States) (1) , exposure to lead during pregnancy is a factor in obesity in infants and children. The scientists first experimented on mice, via drinking water, during gestation and then lactation. They were subjected to different levels, which showed that the more the subjects were exposed, the higher their energy intake.
Male and female: not equal in the face of adversity
It appeared, also, an important difference between the male and the female. For the same dose of ingested lead, the male subject will tend to gain more weight in adulthood, to have an increase of 8 to 10% in their body mass as well as their insulin level and a lower expenditure. energy while the female mouse will find a stabilized weight as well as a balanced diet similar to a subject not exposed or close to the zero rate.
No minimum level for lead
There are multiple sources of lead exposure , including in older homes, air, water, soil, food, and some consumer products. It was proven that this exposure could lead to many health problems such as damage to the nervous system, kidneys, blood, lead poisoning. This risk of obesity is medically proven for the first time even at very low doses. This new revelation is qualified as alarming by the specialists who dealt with it.
Where is lead hiding?
Lead is a toxic metal that can be ingested by dust, water, steam and it gradually accumulates in the body, so it has very harmful effects on health, especially in women. pregnant, who transmits it through the blood to her child.
It appears in ceruse paints in poor condition, young children can inhale it through small particles which break off into fine dust during sanding or because they scratch the scales and ingest them. It also lurks in old water pipes from before the 1950s as well as under air pollution and in many other places you don’t even suspect. Traditional cosmetics are also not spared (kohls).
There are small, simple actions to protect your children on a daily basis, such as washing their hands very often, especially before each meal and regularly cleaning their toys, ensuring that they have a balanced diet: lead poisoning is aggravated by a lack of iron and calcium.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as zero risk. In France, the minimum dose authorized in drinking water is 10 micrograms per litre, which unfortunately does not guarantee 100% effective protection against it.
According to the study published in PLoS ONE (online scientific journal), if obesity is proven in humans, following exposure to lead, it would be important for pregnant women to be able to protect themselves and thus protect the unborn fetus . she wears, throughout their pregnancy.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.