Pretoria, 28 September 2025 – The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) wishes to reassure the public that paracetamol remains a safe and recommended option for the relief of pain and fever during pregnancy, when used short-term at recommended doses.
Paracetamol is one of the most widely used medicines globally and has been extensively studied for decades. There is currently no scientific evidence that using paracetamol in pregnancy causes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
SAHPRA will continue to monitor emerging evidence on the safety of paracetamol.
Advice for healthcare professionals
Paracetamol remains a recommended safe treatment for pain or fever in pregnant women. Pregnant women should be reassured that there is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism or ADHD in children. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to provide counselling to patients about the side effects of paracetamol, as detailed in the product’s professional information and patient information leaflet (https://pi-pil-repository.sahpra.org.za/).
Advice for healthcare professionals to provide to patients
Pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy should be advised to use paracetamol only when needed and at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Untreated fever and pain may pose risks to the unborn baby, and it is therefore important to seek treatment if recommended by a healthcare professional. Pregnant women should consult a healthcare professional if pain or fever persists or if they have any concerns about medicine use during pregnancy. Pregnant women should also be advised to avoid combining paracetamol with other medicines without first seeking medical advice.
Report any suspected adverse drug reactions
Healthcare professionals and members of the public are urged to report any suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) related to the use of paracetamol and other health products to SAHPRA via the eReporting link available on the SAHPRA website (www.sahpra.org.za) or complete an ADR reporting form accessible via the SAHPRA website and email it to adr@sahpa.org.za. Alternatively, reporting can be done via the Med Safety App, downloadable through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
SAHPRA remains committed to ensuring the safety of medicines available in South Africa and will update the public if new scientific evidence changes current recommendations.
Children born to obese mothers are at higher risk of developing metabolic disorders, even if they follow a healthy diet themselves. A new study from the University of Bonn published in the journal Nature offers an explanation for this phenomenon. In obese mice, certain cells in the embryo’s liver are reprogrammed during pregnancy. This leads to long-term changes in the offspring’s metabolism. The researchers believe that these findings could also be relevant for humans.
The team focused on the so-called Kupffer cells. These are macrophages that help protect the body as part of the innate immune system. During embryonic development, they migrate into the liver, where they take up permanent residence. There, they fight off pathogens and break down ageing or damaged cells.
“But these Kupffer cells also act as conductors,” explains Prof Dr Elvira Mass from the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn. “They instruct the surrounding liver cells on what to do. In this way, they help ensure that the liver, as a central metabolic organ, performs its many tasks correctly.”
Changing the tune: From Beethoven to Vivaldi
It appears, however, that it is this conducting function that is changed by obesity. This is what mouse experiments carried out by Mass in cooperation with other research groups at the University of Bonn suggest. “We were able to show that the offspring of obese mothers frequently developed a fatty liver shortly after birth,” says Dr Hao Huang from Mass’s lab. “And this happened even when the young animals were fed a completely normal diet.”
The cause of this disorder seems to be a kind of “reprogramming” of the Kupffer cells in the offspring. As a result, they send out molecular signals that instruct the liver cells to take up more fat. Figuratively speaking, they no longer conduct one of Beethoven’s symphonies but rather a piece by Vivaldi.
This shift already seems to occur during embryonic development and is triggered by metabolic products from the mother. These activate a kind of metabolic switch in the Kupffer cells and change the way these cells direct liver cells in the long term. “This switch is a so-called transcription factor,” says Mass. “It controls which genes are active in Kupffer cells.”
No fatty liver without the molecular switch
When the researchers genetically removed this switch in the Kupffer cells during pregnancy, the offspring did not develop a fatty liver. Whether this mechanism could also be targeted with medication is still unclear. The teams now plan to investigate this in follow-up studies.
If new treatment approaches emerge from this, it would be good news. The altered behaviour of the Kupffer cells likely has many negative consequences. Fat accumulation in the liver, for example, is accompanied by strong inflammatory responses. These can cause increasing numbers of hepatocytes to die and be replaced with scar tissue, resulting in fibrosis. At the same time, the risk that hepatocytes degenerate and become cancerous increases.
“It is becoming ever more evident that many diseases in humans already begin at a very early developmental stage,” says Mass, who is also spokesperson for the transdisciplinary research area “Life & Health” and a board member of the “ImmunoSensation2” Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn. “Our study is one of the few to explain in detail how this early programming can happen.”
Researchers found the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, introduced across the UK in late summer 2024, led to a 72% reduction in babies hospitalised with the virus if the pregnant parent was vaccinated.
The findings, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, are the first to show the real-world effectiveness of the vaccine during pregnancy in the UK.
Uptake of the jab among those who are pregnant could help to limit the number of sick babies each winter, reducing hospital pressures, experts say.
Virus protection
RSV is a common virus that causes coughs and colds but can lead to a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which can be dangerous in babies, with some requiring admission to intensive care. The virus is the main infectious cause of hospitalisation for babies in the UK and globally.
Receiving the vaccine during pregnancy helps to protect both parent and baby. Antibodies produced by the parent in response to the vaccine are passed to the foetus, providing protection from severe RSV for the first six months after birth.
Hospital admissions
The research team, led by the Universities of Edinburgh and Leicester, recruited 537 babies across England and Scotland who had been admitted to hospital with severe respiratory disease in the winter of 2024-2025, the first season of vaccine implementation. 391 of the babies tested positive for RSV.
Parents of babies who did not have RSV were two times more likely to have received the vaccine before delivery than the parents of RSV-positive babies – 41% compared with 19%.
Vaccinate early
Receiving the vaccine more than 14 days before delivery offered a higher protective effect, with a 72% reduction in hospital admissions compared with 58% for infants whose pregnant parent was vaccinated at any time before delivery.
Experts recommend getting vaccinated as soon as possible from 28 weeks of pregnancy to provide the best protection, as this allows more time for the parent to generate and pass on protective antibodies to the baby, but the jab can be given up to birth.
With the availability of an effective RSV vaccine shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation in young infants in the UK, there is an excellent opportunity for pregnant women to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their infants from RSV bronchiolitis this coming winter.
Dr Thomas Williams, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Paediatric Consultant at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People
Improve uptake
Previous research has found that only half of expectant parents in England and Scotland are currently receiving the RSV vaccine, despite its high success at preventing serious illness.
The findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of the availability and effectiveness of the new vaccine to help protect babies, experts say.
Research team finds moderate risk for preterm birth, low birth weight
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
An updated systematic review finds that consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the odds of preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death. This study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University appears in JAMA Pediatrics.
Study lead author Jamie Lo, MD, MCR, is a physician-scientist who provides prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies at OHSU.
“Patients are coming to me in their prenatal visits saying, ‘I quit smoking and drinking, but is it safe to still use cannabis?’” said Lo, associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology (maternal-foetal medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine. “Until direct harms have been proven, they perceive it to be safe to use.”
In fact, cannabis remains one of the most common substances used in pregnancy that’s still illegal under federal law, and, unlike declines in prenatal use of alcohol or nicotine, cannabis use is continuing to increase. Lo said many of her patients are reluctant to give up cannabis during pregnancy because it helps to reduce common prenatal symptoms such as nausea, insomnia and pain.
Researchers updated the systematic review and meta-analysis, drawing on a total of 51 observational studies involving 21.1 million people to examine the potential adverse effects of cannabis use in pregnancy. The researchers found eight new studies since their previous update, raising the certainty of evidence from “very-low-to-low” to “moderate” for increased odds of low birth weight, preterm birth and babies being small for their gestational age.
The updated review also indicated increased odds of newborn mortality, though still with low certainty.
Researchers noted that the new systematic review includes a larger proportion of human observational studies examining people who only use cannabis, but don’t also use nicotine. And even though the evidence is low to moderate for adverse outcomes, Lo noted that the findings are consistent with definitive evidence in nonhuman primate models exposed to THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The related research in animal models included standard prenatal ultrasound and MRI imaging that revealed a detrimental effect on the placenta, in terms of blood flow and availability of oxygen in addition to decreased volume of amniotic fluid.
“These findings tell me as an obstetrician that the placenta is not functioning as it normally would in pregnancy,” Lo said. “When the placenta isn’t functioning well, it can affect the baby’s development and growth.”
Even though cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, Oregon is one of several states that have legalised it under state law for medicinal and recreational use. Lo said she recommends a harm-reduction approach to patients. For those who cannot abstain, she advises them to reduce the amount and frequency of use to help reduce the risk of prenatal and infant complications.
“Even using less can mitigate the risk,” she said. “Abstinence is ideal, but it’s not realistic for many patients.”
As we observe Pregnancy Awareness Month this February, it is crucial to reflect on the journey of motherhood and the importance of comprehensive maternity care. According to the latest data from 2024, South Africa’s maternal mortality rate stands at approximately 119 deaths per 100 000 live births1. This statistic underscores the urgent need for improved maternity care services across the country.
Pregnancy is a transformative time, and the right support can make all the difference. From prenatal education to quality healthcare services, expectant mothers require tools and support to navigate this journey confidently. Focus must remain on education, enhancing maternity care services, and addressing the unique challenges faced by South African mothers to ensure that we promote healthy pregnancies and safe motherhood.
Empowering Mothers Through Education
“Education is the cornerstone of empowerment,” says Margot Brews, Head of Health Risk Management Strategy at Momentum Health. “By providing expectant mothers with accurate information about prenatal care, nutrition, and the stages of pregnancy, we can help them make informed decisions that benefit their health and the health of their babies.”
Margot Brews, Head of Health Risk Management Strategy at Momentum Health. Photo: Supplied.
Early antenatal care is crucial, as it allows for the early detection and management of potential complications such as hypertension, diabetes, and infections. In South Africa, where maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain a concern, education can be a powerful tool in reducing these numbers.
Enhancing Maternity Care Services
Quality maternity care is essential for ensuring safe pregnancies and healthy births. In South Africa, access to quality healthcare services can be disparate, with rural areas often facing significant challenges.
“Maternity care is critically important as it directly impacts the health and well-being of both mothers and their babies,” Brews emphasises. “Comprehensive maternity care includes not only medical care but also emotional and psychological support for expectant mothers.”
Early and regular antenatal visits are crucial for detecting and managing potential complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, and infections. Additionally, providing mental health support as part of maternity care can help address anxiety and depression, which are common during pregnancy and postpartum.
Efforts to enhance maternity care services must focus on improving infrastructure in healthcare facilities, training healthcare providers, and ensuring the availability of essential medicines and equipment. “By addressing these challenges, we can create a supportive environment that promotes healthy pregnancies and safe motherhood for all women in South Africa,” Brews adds.
Addressing the Challenges Faced by Mothers
South African mothers face a range of challenges, from financial constraints to social stigma. Teenage pregnancies, in particular, pose significant risks to both the mother and the child. Additionally, teenage mothers often face barriers to continuing their education, which can impact their long-term economic prospects.
“To address these challenges, we must create supportive environments which encourage young mothers to seek prenatal care and continue their education. This should start before pregnancy in the form of guidance and support within the context of broader sexual reproductive health. Community-based programs that provide childcare support, financial assistance, and educational opportunities can make a significant difference in the lives of young mothers and their children,” says Brews.
The Role of Partners and Families
Pregnancy is not only a journey for the mother; it involves the entire family. Partners and families play a crucial role in providing support and creating a nurturing environment for the expectant mother. This involvement can help strengthen the family unit and ensure that the mother receives the emotional and practical support she needs.
“Partners and families are integral to the pregnancy journey, specifically within the cultural context of South Africa,” Brews notes. “Their support can make a significant difference in the emotional and physical well-being of the expectant mother.”
Promoting Maternal Mental Health
Mental health is a critical aspect of maternity care that is often overlooked. Pregnancy and childbirth can be emotionally challenging, and many women experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health strains during this time. It is essential to provide mental health support as part of comprehensive maternity care.
“February presents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of empowering mothers and enhancing maternity care in South Africa,” says Brews. “By working together, we can ensure that every mother has the resources and support she needs for a healthy and positive pregnancy journey.”
Momentum Health believes that by prioritising maternity care, a significant difference can be made in the lives of mothers and their babies. Education and advocating for quality maternity care for all is critical and more must be done to improve maternal care, address disparities in healthcare access, and provide comprehensive support to expectant mothers and mothers in general. “Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of mothers and their babies, creating a healthier and brighter future,” concludes Brews.
Low vitamin D levels in the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased foetal length, according to a new study led by researchers in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences. This research provides evidence that early pregnancy or even preconception may represent critical time points for intervening with women who have low vitamin D status, to optimise pregnancy outcomes.
“More than 25% of women who are pregnant or lactating have lower than recommended levels of vitamin D,” Gernand said, explaining that prior research has demonstrated the effect of vitamin D on foetal skeletal growth, maternal immune function at the foetal interface, and the development of the placenta in pregnant women. “A lot of the development early in pregnancy requires vitamin D, so we conducted this study to better understand how early-pregnancy vitamin D status is related to pregnancy outcomes.”
Most prior studies on vitamin D status in pregnant women have measured vitamin D concentrations starting in the second trimester or later, the researchers said. The researchers said this study, to their knowledge, is the first to examine both first and second trimester maternal vitamin D status in relation to longitudinal foetal growth and pregnancy outcomes.
The researchers at Penn State partnered with colleagues at the University of Utah to test blood samples from 351 women collected as part of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be, which was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and recruited pregnant women across the United States between 2010 and 2013.
According to the Institute of Medicine, less than 50nmol/L represents an insufficiency of vitamin D. When the researchers compared outcomes for women with vitamin D insufficiency (less than 50nmol/L) to women with sufficient vitamin D (more than or equal to 50nmol/L), they found no statistical differences in pregnancy outcomes. However, when the researchers compared pregnancy outcomes across a wider range of vitamin D concentrations, they found that pregnant women with first trimester vitamin D concentrations lower than 40 nmol/L were four times more likely to experience a preterm birth compared to women with vitamin D concentrations more than or equal to 80nmol/L.
Despite the higher risk of preterm birth in women with low vitamin D status, the researchers cautioned that these results were based on a very low number of preterm births in this study and recommend that additional, larger studies be conducted.
The researchers also observed an association between first-trimester vitamin D concentrations and certain foetal growth patterns. Women with higher levels of vitamin D experienced a small but statistically significant increase in foetal length.
When women are pregnant and nurse their babies, their bodies change and various organs, such as the breasts or the immune system, are adapted to ensure the health of both mother and child. This happens throughout evolution in all mammals. An international research team led by Josef Penninger and Masahiro Onji, Medical University of Vienna, now reports the surprising finding that the intestine also changes completely in pregnant and nursing females, resulting in a doubling of the intestinal surface area and a striking structural reorganisation.
Reporting their findings in Nature, the researchers also provide the first genetic and mechanistic evidence of how this intestinal epithelial expansion occurs in mothers, with direct implications for the transgenerational health of the babies.
A multinational team led by Josef Penninger observed that the intestinal villi reorganise during pregnancy and breastfeeding and significantly enlarge, doubling their surface area. The studies were carried out in genetically modified mice and intestinal organoids from mice and humans – self-organised three-dimensional tissues derived from stem cells in the intestine. Mechanistically, the researchers identified the RANK receptor/RANK ligand (RANK/RANKL) system as the key to the villous enlargement of the small intestine during reproduction, which is regulated by sex and lactation hormones. When mice were engineered to lack the RANK/RANKL system in the intestine, the villous expansion during pregnancy and breastfeeding was significantly impaired.
For decades, researchers have studied the RANK/RANKL system as a key facilitator of essential, evolutionarily conserved processes. The Penninger group has already identified key functions of the RANK/RANKL system in bone turnover, in the biology of the mammary gland, in breast cancer, and in immune tolerance in pregnancy, contributing to the development of drugs against bone loss used by millions of people and clinical trials for breast cancer prevention and cancer immunotherapies are underway. The researchers now discovered that these intestinal changes, which appear to be completely reversible when nursing is stopped, are important for proper feeding and nourishment of the babies.
“Our study shows that the impairment of this intestinal expansion by the lack of the RANK/RANKL system during pregnancy changes the milk of the nursing mothers. This results in lower weights of the babies and transgenerational long-term metabolic consequences,” states lead author Masahiro Onji. “Mothers need to eat for themselves and their babies. These new studies provide for the first time a molecular and structural explanation of how and why the intestine changes to adapt to enhanced nutrient demand of mothers, which is probably the case in all pregnant and nursing mammals,” adds study leader Josef Penninger.
How mothers adapt to the demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding remains a central question of evolution and human health. During this phase, female hormones influence multiple organs to control and change their structure and functions, which is crucial for the health of the mother and the development of the offspring. It was known that pregnant women have enhanced nutrient demands. However, this fundamental aspect has not been well studied until now:
“By identifying the RANK/RANKL system as the driving force behind intestinal adaptation during pregnancy and lactation, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of biological processes that are of fundamental importance for evolution and human health”, says Josef Penninger, summarising the impact of the findings.
This massive expansion is controlled by sex and pregnancy hormones, which change the stem cells in the gut via the RANK/RANKL system and then give the intestinal cell a survival signal to grow much larger. This growth then leads to a near doubling of the intestinal surface area, which also increases the molecular machinery for the uptake of sugar, protein, and fat, and even leads to a profound architectural change in the intestinal villi, which probably slows down the flow of food, again maximising the uptake of nutrients.
Josef Penninger said: “Our team has discovered an amazing new way how mother’s bodies change to keep babies healthy. Hardly anybody knew about this, apart from a few old studies that have largely been forgotten. We have also found that this system, via stem cells, can directly affect tumours in the intestine; maybe we can learn from pregnant and nursing mothers to reversibly rewire this system to develop new treatments and a better understanding of intestinal cancer or gut regeneration.”
McGill University scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection. Contrary to the common belief that pregnancy increases vulnerability to infections, researchers found that it strengthened an immune defence in mice, blocking the Influenza A virus from spreading to the lungs, where it can cause severe infection.
“Our results are surprising because of the current dogma, but it makes sense from an evolutionary perspective,” said co-lead author Dr Maziar Divangahi, Professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute).
“A mother needs to stay healthy to protect her developing baby, so the immune system adapts to provide stronger defenses. This fascinating response in the nasal cavity is the body’s way of adding an extra layer of protection, which turns on during pregnancy.”
Exploring benefits for pregnancy and beyond
The researchers used a mouse model to observe how a certain type of immune cell activates in the nasal cavity of mice during pregnancy, producing a powerful molecule that boosts the body’s antiviral defenses, especially in the nose and upper airways.
“Influenza A virus remains among the deadliest threats to humanity,” said first author Julia Chronopoulos, who carried out the research while completing her PhD at McGill. “This natural immunity in pregnancy could change the way we think about flu protection for expectant mothers.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends pregnant women and pregnant individuals get the flu vaccine, as they are at high risk of severe illness and complications like preterm birth. The new insights offer promise for more targeted vaccines for influenza, which is among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada.
“The broader population could also benefit, as our findings suggest the immune response we observed could be replicated beyond pregnancy,” said co-lead author Dr James Martin, Professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the RI-MUHC. This could mean new nasal vaccines or treatments that increase protective molecules, known as Interleukin-17.
The team’s next focus is on finding ways to reduce lung damage during viral infections like the flu or COVID. Rather than targeting the virus, as previous research has done, they aim to prevent dysregulated immune systems from overreacting, an approach that could lower the risk of serious complications associated with flu infection.
(a) Drinking vessel in shape of Bes head; El-Fayūm Oasis, Egypt; Ptolemaic-Roman period (4th century BCE − 3rd century CE), (courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art, Florida). (b) Bes mug from the Ghalioungui collection, 10.7 × 7.9 cm (Ghalioungui, G. Wagner 1974, Kaiser 2003, cat. no. 342). (c) Bes mug inv. no. 14.415 from the Allard Pierson Museum, 11.5 × 9.3 cm (courtesy of the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam; photo by Stephan van der Linden). (d) Bes mug from El-Fayum, dimensions unknown (Kaufmann 1913; Kaiser 2003, cat. no. 343). Credit: Scientific Reports, 2024
The first-ever physical evidence of hallucinogens in an Egyptian mug has been found, validating written records and centuries-old myths of ancient Egyptian rituals and practices. Through advanced chemical analyses, University of South Florida professor Davide Tanasi examined one of the world’s few remaining Egyptian Bes mugs.
Such mugs, including the one donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984, are decorated with the head of Bes, an ancient Egyptian god or guardian demon worshiped for protection, fertility, medicinal healing and magical purification. Published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, the study sheds light on an ancient Egyptian mystery: The secret of how Bes mugs were used about 2000 years ago.
“There’s no research out there that has ever found what we found in this study,” Tanasi said. “For the first time, we were able to identify all the chemical signatures of the components of the liquid concoction contained in the Tampa Museum of Art’s Bes mug, including the plants used by Egyptians, all of which have psychotropic and medicinal properties.”
The presence of Bes mugs in different contexts over a long period of time made it extremely difficult to speculate on their contents or roles in ancient Egyptian culture.
“For a very long time now, Egyptologists have been speculating what mugs with the head of Bes could have been used for, and for what kind of beverage, like sacred water, milk, wine or beer,” said Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art. “Experts did not know if these mugs were used in daily life, for religious purposes or in magic rituals.”
Several theories about the mugs and vases were formulated on myths, but few of them were ever tested to reveal their exact ingredients until the truth was extracted layer by layer.
Tanasi, who developed this study as part of the Mediterranean Diet Archaeology project promoted by the USF Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment, collaborated with several USF researchers and partners in Italy at the University of Trieste and the University of Milan to perform chemical and DNA analyses. With a pulverised sample from scraping the inner walls of the vase, the team combined numerous analytical techniques for the first time to uncover what the mug last held.
The new tactic was successful and revealed the vase had a cocktail of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol – a combination that Tanasi believes was used in a magical ritual re-enacting an Egyptian myth, likely for fertility. The concoction was flavoured with honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, liquorice and grapes, which were commonly used to make the beverage look like blood.
“This research teaches us about magic rituals in the Greco-Roman period in Egypt,” Van Oppen said. “Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers at Saqqara when they wished to confirm a successful pregnancy because pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers. So, this combination of ingredients may have been used in a dream-vision inducing magic ritual within the context of this dangerous period of childbirth.”
“Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations,” Tanasi said. “With this study, we’ve found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth and it helps us shed light on the poorly understood rituals that were likely carried out in the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids at Giza.”
Pregnancy may carry a cost, according to a new study involving 1735 young people in the Philippines, and shows that women who reported having been pregnant looked biologically older than women who had never been pregnant, and women who had been pregnant more often looked biologically older than those who reported fewer pregnancies.
Notably, the number of pregnancies fathered was not associated with biological aging among same-aged cohort men, which implies that it is something about pregnancy or breastfeeding specifically that accelerates biological aging. The findings are published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.
This study, from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, builds on epidemiological findings that high fertility can have negative side effects on women’s health and longevity. What was unknown, however, was whether the costs of reproduction were present earlier in life, before disease and age-related decline start to become apparent. Until now, one of the challenges has been quantifying biological aging among the young. This challenge was overcome by using a collection of new tools that use DNA methylation (DNAm) to study different facets of cellular aging, health, and mortality risk. These tools, called ‘epigenetic clocks’ allow researchers to study aging earlier in life, filling a key gap in the study of biological aging.
“Epigenetic clocks have revolutionised how we study biological aging across the lifecourse and open up new opportunities to study how and when long-term health costs of reproduction and other life events take hold”, said Calen Ryan, PhD, associate research scientist in the Columbia Aging Center, and lead author.
“Our findings suggest that pregnancy speeds up biological aging, and that these effects are apparent in young, high-fertility women,” said Ryan. “Our results are also the first to follow the same women through time, linking changes in each woman’s pregnancy number to changes in her biological age.”
The relationship between pregnancy history and biological age persisted even after taking into account various other factors tied to biological aging, such as socioeconomic status, smoking, and genetic variation, but were not present among men from the same sample. This finding, noted Ryan, points to some aspect of bearing children – rather than sociocultural factors associated with early fertility or sexual activity – as a driver of biological aging.
Despite the striking nature of the findings, Ryan encourages readers to remember the context: “Many of the reported pregnancies in our baseline measure occurred during late adolescence, when women are still growing. We expect this kind of pregnancy to be particularly challenging for a growing mother, especially if her access to healthcare, resources, or other forms of support is limited.”
Ryan also acknowledged that there is more work to do, “We still have a lot to learn about the role of pregnancy and other aspects of reproduction in the aging process. We also do not know the extent to which accelerated epigenetic aging in these particular individuals will manifest as poor health or mortality decades later in life.”
Ryan said that our current understanding of epigenetic clocks and how they predict health and mortality comes largely from North America and Europe, but that the aging process can take slightly different forms in the Philippines and other places around the world.
“Ultimately I think our findings highlight the potential long-term impacts of pregnancy on women’s health, and the importance of taking care of new parents, especially young mothers.”
