Unborn is at risk due to “natural substances” – Naturopathy naturopathy specialist portal
Even herbal substances can cause harm to the Unborn
Pregnant women are advised to eat a healthy diet and to avoid certain foods better, in order not to endanger your child. The diet should be as free as possible of chemical additives. Researchers now report that “natural” substances can cause harm to the fetus.
According to a recent communication from the University of Bern, herbal preparations, which Pregnant about your food record will be decomposed by the intestinal flora in chemical substances, some of which cross the placental barrier and pass through into the fetus move. The experts say these body-foreign substances can the Unborn harm, even if they are “of natural origin”. They warn against the effects of such substances to underestimate.
We are populated by billions of microbes
All mammals and so, too, we humans are colonized by billions of microbes that live mainly in our intestines, which are, however, also be found in the respiratory tract, on the skin and in the urogenital tract.
In the research group of gastroenterology of the Department for BioMedical Reserarch (DBMR) at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and at the Inselspital, University hospital Bern, investigate Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg, and Andrew Macpherson, the Interaction of these benign gut microbes with the host organism.
It has a positive influence on the immune system
The positive influence of gut flora on our immune system, is already known for a long time. The maternal intestinal flora has an influence on the development of the child’s system of immune in the womb and right after birth.
Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg, and Andrew Macpherson to have borne together in a in the journal “Science” published review article, the current knowledge about the extent to which the maternal gut flora in the development of the child’s immune assisting system.
The experts also found evidence that the effect of herbal substances, which include Pregnant women about the diet, has been underestimated in research to date and a potential risk for the Unborn is.
Drugs can interfere with the development of the child
The research is a long time, the developing Embryo and fetus is completely sterile, that is, in the absence of colonizing microbes, grows up, and that the settlement takes place only at the time of birth.
“However, the fetus is not protected, in spite of everything against microbial metabolic products derived from the intestinal flora of the mother,” says Ganal-Vonarburg.
The data suggest that the placenta provides only partial protection, and contact with microbial substances leads system in the mother’s womb for the maturation of the infant’s innate immune. This could show that previous studies of the group of Ganal-Vonarburg, and Macpherson.
“It is common that Pregnant women taking medication only with caution and after consultation with your doctor, because many medications can cross the placenta and the development of the child’s disturbing,” said Ganal-Vonarburg.
“Much less is however known about what naturally-occurring substances can be excreted in the diet on the unborn child and the extent to which it’s beneficial or harmful for the development of the child can be immune system,” explains the scientist.
Also, the intake of Superfoods can be problematic
Ganal-Vonarburg has now worn with Andrew Macpherson, current research results and evidence found, that the metabolic products of the food, not only directly, but often only after metabolism by the intestinal flora in the maternal organism, and so also in the developing fetus can get.
This also applies to the use of herbal products, for example Superfoods that will apply just in pregnancy is considered to be very healthy, such as Goji berries or Chia seeds:
“Although herbal products are “natural” substances, they are still a so-called xenobiotic, so the body of foreign substances, with which handled very carefully as it should be,” explains Macpherson. “Just when Pregnant plant-based products in large quantities in the future”.
The researchers recommend that future studies should investigate how and which substances are beneficial or a negative effect on the development of the Unborn child have, and what is the influence of differences in the maternal intestinal flora in this process can have.
How the immune system develops
As soon as the Baby passes through the birth canal of the mother, begins the colonization of its body surfaces with the benign Flora. In the course of the first years this Matures to a complex community of microbes.
External influences, such as delivery (spontaneous birth, caesarean section), as well as nutrition (breast-feeding or bottle-feeding) influence this process in the long term.
In Parallel with this, the child’s immune system develops. Today is considered to be evidence that certain microbial Stimuli dominate in this early time, the immune system for life. (ad)
