How Mom's Genes Change How Chemicals Affect Baby's Birth Weight
Prenatal Exposure to Parabens Affects Birth Outcomes through Maternal Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) Polymorphisms: From the Mothers and Kids Environmental Health (MAKE) Study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Higher paraben exposure was linked to *increased* birth weight and *longer* gestation—outcomes often seen as positive, not negative.
Parabens are typically labeled as harmful endocrine disruptors, so finding they’re associated with 'better' birth outcomes in some cases flips the script and challenges blanket warnings.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women, especially those with family history of metabolic or developmental issues, may consider reducing use of cosmetics and personal care products with methyl and propyl parabens.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Higher paraben exposure was linked to *increased* birth weight and *longer* gestation—outcomes often seen as positive, not negative.
Parabens are typically labeled as harmful endocrine disruptors, so finding they’re associated with 'better' birth outcomes in some cases flips the script and challenges blanket warnings.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women, especially those with family history of metabolic or developmental issues, may consider reducing use of cosmetics and personal care products with methyl and propyl parabens.
Publication
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Year
2021
Authors
B. Shin, Jeoung A Kwon, E. Park, Sora Kang, Seyoung Kim, E. Park, Byungmi Kim
Related Content
Claims (6)
Chemicals that mess with hormones might be harming kids' brain development.
Pregnant women who have a certain genetic makeup that affects how their body cleans out chemicals might have babies with higher birth weights if they’re exposed to more parabens — common preservatives in cosmetics — during pregnancy.
Pregnant women who can't clear certain chemicals well due to their genes might have bigger babies if they're exposed to more methyl paraben, a common ingredient in personal care products.
Pregnant women who have a certain gene variation might have babies with higher birth weights if they’re exposed to more propyl paraben, a chemical found in some personal care products.
Pregnant women who have a certain gene change might go into labor a little later if they have more of a chemical called propyl paraben in their bodies, based on what’s found in their urine.