Smoking during pregnancy may cause poor aerobic fitness in young men

Male infants with mothers who smoked during pregnancy are at high risk of long-term health problems, a new study warns. Babies who were exposed to second-hand smoke while in the womb could have lower aerobic fitness in adulthood compared with those whose mothers did not smoke.

The study, published in the journal BJOG, shows that smoking and breathing in second-hand smoke could significantly harm both mother and the baby. Researchers said the findings add to the existing evidence of the negative and “long-standing impacts of maternal smoking.”

Earlier studies showed that mothers who smoke are at higher risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth and stillbirth. Their babies are also at risk of birth defects and neurological, psychological and behavioural difficulties.

Maternal smoking greatly increases the risk of babies for asthma, chest and ear infections and pneumonia. In addition, they have a greater risk of infant death syndrome.

“Women must receive advice and support to help them stop smoking during pregnancy, as well guidance on how to maintain a healthy weight to minimise the risks to their unborn child," said Dr Maria Hagnäs, lead author of the study from the University of Oulu, Finland, in a press release.

The finding of the link between maternal smoking and the poor aerobic fitness of men comes from the analysis of the health of 508 young men, around 19 years old, and 59 mothers who smoked more than one cigarette each day throughout their pregnancy.

Researchers measured the ability of male volunteers on a running test at the beginning of their military service assessment. Results show that aside from maternal smoking, higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and excessive weight gain during pregnancy also contributed to the lower aerobic fitness of the young men.

Previous research suggests that babies exposed to maternal smoking are more likely to be small, with a higher risk of obesity and insulin resistance later in life.

"Stopping smoking is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do to improve their baby's health, growth and development, and this study demonstrates the negative effect smoking in pregnancy can have on a child's long-term health too,” said Dr Geeta Kumar, chair of Patient Information Committee at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK.

Researchers suggest that women who are unable to quit smoking should at least try to abstain from the habit during their pregnancy using nicotine replacement therapy. However, they noted that mothers should reduce smoking as much as they can to deliver more benefits to their children.

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