NEWCASTLE, England, Feb 12, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Women obese during
pregnancy have a small increased risk of some birth defects, such as spina
bifida and neural tube defects, British researchers said.
Katherine J. Stothard and colleagues from Newcastle University in England
conducted a review and meta-analysis of studies to assess the relationship
between maternal overweight and obesity and the risk of congenital anomaly in
newborns.
The researchers identified 39 articles that were included in a systematic review
and 18 articles in the meta-analysis.
"In women who were obese at the start of pregnancy, the meta-analysis
demonstrated a significantly increased risk of a pregnancy affected by a neural
tube defect; including spina bifida; cardiovascular anomaly; cleft palate and
cleft lip and palate; abnormality of the anus/rectum; abnormal enlargement of
the ventricles of the brain due to accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid and a
limb reduction," the study authors said in a statement.
"An estimated 3 percent of all live births in the United States are affected by
a structural anomaly with 0.68 per 1,000 births being affected by a neural tube
defect and 2.25 per 1,000 births being affected by a serious heart anomaly."
The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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