Red Wine Damages Pancreas of Unborn Babies

Mothers-to-be might want to more careful about drinking wine as a new study found that a healthy ingredient in red wine is potentially harmful to unborn babies.

 Resveratrol, an antioxidant present in red wine, has several health benefits that include improved heart health, lowering risk of cancer and slowing aging. But researchers at the University of Portland, found that this health-boosting ingredient harms pancreas of unborn babies.

The study was conducted on Macaque monkeys. Researchers noticed that the antioxidant resveratrol improved the flow of blood through the placenta and also offered protection against harmful aspects of obesity. But they also observed that the healthy ingredient caused great damage to fetal pancreas.

The study lead Dr. Kevin Grove, a diabetes, obesity and metabolism researcher, from the University of Portland said: "The important message in this study is that women should be very careful about what they consume while pregnant, and they should not take supplements, like resveratrol, without consulting with their doctors. What might be good for the mother may not be good for the baby."

The researchers conducted a study in which obese female macaque monkeys were given a daily dose of resveratrol supplement. Also, throughout their pregnancy they were given a typical western diet every day. The second group of monkeys was not given the supplement. The flow of blood though the placenta as well as other health complications were closely monitored.

On comparing both the groups, the researchers noticed certain pancreatic abnormalities in those taking the resveratrol supplement.

Dr Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal, said: "We've known for a long time that resveratrol is pharmacologically active, and we're just now really beginning to understand the pros and cons of consuming high concentrations of this substance. As we begin to establish a safety profile for resveratrol and other dietary supplements, findings like this should come as no surprise. There are always negative side effects when you eat, drink, take or do too much of anything."

The finding was documented in the journal FASEB.