Cannabis during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care in infants, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the University of Toronto.
The study, which was published in the journal Addiction, also discovered that cannabis-exposed newborns are not at a higher risk of birth abnormalities or mortality within one year, including sudden unexpected infant death.
“The global increase in cannabis use among women of reproductive age also extends to pregnant women,” says Maryam Sorkhou, a PhD student and principal author on the study at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Institute of Medical Science. “We know that THC, the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis, can cross the placenta from mother to fetus and bind to receptors in the fetal brain.”
Tony George, a clinician-scientist at CAMH and a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of psychiatry and Institute of Medical Science, collaborated with Sorkhou on the project.
This study combined the findings of 57 previous investigations from throughout the world.
These investigations took place between 1984 and 2023 and involved the health outcomes of almost 12 million newborns, including over 102,000 infants who were exposed to cannabis before birth.
For example, 20 of the included studies assessed the relationship between intrauterine cannabis exposure and the risk of premature delivery.
The combined data suggest that moms who used cannabis during pregnancy were more than 1.5 times more likely to have a premature delivery than mothers who did not use cannabis during pregnancy.
Another 18 papers included in the review assessed the risk of low birth weight.
The combined findings suggest that mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a low-birth-weight infant than mothers who did not use cannabis during pregnancy.
Ten of the included trials additionally assessed the likelihood of requiring NICU hospitalization.
The pooled data suggest that neonates with intrauterine cannabis exposure were more than twice as likely as non-exposed newborns to require NICU hospitalization.
“Our study adds to that knowledge by showing that prenatal exposure to cannabis heightens the risk of several adverse birth outcomes,” says Sorkhou.
For more information: Birth, cognitive and behavioral effects of intrauterine cannabis exposure in infants and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal Addiction
more recommended stories
Lead Exposure in Indoors and Contamination in SoilKey Points Lead contamination in soil.
Early-Life Stress Linked to Lasting Brain Epigenetic ChangesKey Points Early-life stress (ELS) increased.
Autophagy Modulation in Cisplatin-Resistant Gastric CancerKey Takeaways Autophagy modulation is emerging.
AI in Women’s Health May Reinforce Gender Bias, Study WarnsKey Takeaways Researchers caution that AI.
Oscillometry Detects Early Lung Changes Before Pediatric HSCTKey Summary Oscillometry detected subtle lung.
Breastfeeding Myths Challenged by New Clinical EvidenceKey Summary An international evidence review.
Rapid-Acting Antidepressants Share Neuroimmune PathwaysKey Points Researchers identified common neuroimmune.
SuperAgers and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk ExplainedKey Summary SuperAgers maintain exceptional episodic.
Inherited Genetics and Cancer Susceptibility ExplainedKey Summary Inherited genetics directly influences.
Multiple Sclerosis Mortality Trends Reveal Care Gaps in the USAKey Points Multiple sclerosis mortality in.
Leave a Comment