Born Smart

The “yes”, “no” message regarding alcohol, the media and one recent study is sending pregnant mothers is very unhelpful and even possibly dangerous. A study late last year declared that there was no evidence that moderate drinking during pregnancy cause cognitive problems in children. But the findings of the latest study on alcohol may bring this debate closer to a conclusion.

Retinoic acid, produced in different areas of the embryo, help position and mature cells into various organs and body parts. Researchers found that in having to detoxify the alcohol, the embryo is deprived of molecules that produce Retinoic acid. The study found that in preventing normal production of Retinoic acid, the alcohol prevents cells from moving to their correct positions and maturing properly.

“This provides evidence that alcohol hijacks RALDH2 molecules for its own breakdown process and steals it away from its important role of synthesizing positional and maturation cues during development.”

Don’t make things harder for your baby, help him to develop the best possible epigenome that he can by keeping alcohol and other toxins out of his environment.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090406072910.htm”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090406072910.htm