Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children: Findings suggest adverse impact on health in later life
22 June 2011Researchers published in European Heart Journal have discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are causing developmental changes to their unborn babies that lead to them having lower levels of the type of cholesterol that is known to protect against heart disease in later life – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Read the paper: Maternal cigarette smoking is associated with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in healthy 8-year-old childrenPublished in European Heart Journal, Advance Access, 21 June 2011.
Read the press release here.
In the news
Telegraph - Smoking in pregnancy raises child's risk of heart disease in later life
Reuters - Smoking in pregnancy cuts child's good cholesterol
ABC - Pregnant smokers increase child's risk of heart attack
Sky News - Smoking mums increase kids' heart risk