Why Pregnant Women Should Not Eat Licorice

The Candy's Adverse Effects on the Baby's Weight, IQ, and Behavior

Oct 20, 2009 Alicia Richardson

Licorice candy is considered a perfectly "safe" treat by most people. A new study shows it is harmful to a developing fetus and the baby's health after birth.

With the advent of Halloween, many people will be handing out sweets (including licorice candies) to trick or treaters. Some may even partake of the confections themselves. Should you be consuming bonbons flavored with licorice? Some government health agencies believe you shouldn't indulge in licorice candies.

Nature and Historic Uses of Licorice

Licorice - the flavoring extracted from the roots of the licorice plant called "Glycyrrhiza glabra" has been used and cultivated in Greece, China, and Egypt. It was traditionally used for stomach problems and upper respiratory illnesses. Extensively used as a flavoring agent, and prized for its sweetness (it is 50 times sweeter than sugar), licorice was used in candies. Today, most licorice-flavored sweets contain anise oil, but licorice is still used in medicinal herbs, lozenges, and tobacco products.

Who Should Not Consume Licorice

The National Institute of Health recommends that certain persons should avoid eating licorice because of its potential adverse health effects. These persons include:

Pregnant and breastfeeding women
Children younger than 18 years of age
Persons with coronary heart failure or coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis)
People with high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance, edema, and people taking diuretics
Individuals with kidney or liver problem and
Persons with hormonal problems

Harmful Effects of Licorice Consumption on Human Health

Pregnant and breastfeeding women (as well as persons sensitive to licorice) are advised not to consume licorice because of its adverse effects on health. Glycyrrhizitic Acid , the active compound in licorice, impairs fetal brain development in the developing fetus, infants, and children. A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that mothers who ate large amounts of licorice during pregnancy delivered:

preterm, low-birth weight babies
infants with short attention spans
children with cognitive deficiencies including lower levels of vocabulary, memory,spatial awareness, and
children with lower levels of intelligence

Of the children who participated in the investigation, 64 were exposed to high levels of glycyrrhizin, 46 to moderate levels, and 211 subjects were exposed to low levels of glycyrrhizin. Women who ate more than 500 mg of glycyrrhizin per week , an equivalent of 100 g of pure licorice - were more likely to deliver babies with low intelligence and behavioral problems.

How Glycyrrhizin Harms Health

In the stomach, glycyrrhizin is converted to glycyrrhitic acid which in turn prevents the enzyme 11 beta hydrosteroid dehydrogenase and other enzymes from breaking down corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are hormones produced by the adrenal glands. The inhibition of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase leads to the accumulation of cortisol levels in the kidneys and other tissues. Cortisol is a stress hormone.

Because cortisol occurs in much larger amounts than aldosterone and binds with the same receptors as aldosterone, it results in elevated levels of cortisol. (Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It plays a vital role in maintaining electrolyte balance in the body by promoting the re-absorption of sodium and excretion of potassium by the kidneys). Although the inhibition of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is reversible, the compensatory mechanisms following the depression of the renin-angiotensin system may last for many months. The renin-angiotension system is a system that regulates blood pressure and water balance. The other ill effects of glycyrrhitic acid includes:

hypokalemia (low potassium blood levels). Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, severe muscle spasms, twitches, and even paralysis.
abnormal heart rhythm, especially in people with heart disease
liver problems and
kidney damage

Currently, there are no set legislations about daily licorice intake. Sensitivity to glycyrrhitic acid varies from person. Sensitive individuals may experience ill effects after ingesting 100 mg of glycyrrhitic acid (about 500 mg of licorice a day) while others may feel ill only after eating 400 mg of this substance. The big question is, knowing its potential for harm, is it worth the risk?

References

Raikkonen K et al. "Maternal Licorice Consumption and Detrimental Cognitive and Psychiatric Outcomes in Children" Am J Epidemiology Nov.2009;170(9):1137-1146

Hughes J et al. "Preterm Births and Licorice Consumption During Pregnancy" Am J Epidemiol 2003;158(2):190-191

Strandberg TE et al. "Pretern Births and Licorice Consumption During Pregnancy" Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:803-805

"Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and DGL (de-glycyrrhizated)" Medline Plus U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health Updated August 25, 2009

The copyright of the article Why Pregnant Women Should Not Eat Licorice in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Alicia Richardson. Permission to republish Why Pregnant Women Should Not Eat Licorice in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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