Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Impacts the Fetal Development

Highlights:

Many women wonder if consuming cannabis in edible form is safe during pregnancy
A new study has found a link between cannabis use during pregnancy and possible behavioral impairments in growing fetus //
Hence, using cannabis might be legally acceptable but that does not mean it’s safe for your unborn child

Consuming Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main ingredient in cannabis while being pregnant might affect the development of the fetus and lead to life-long health impacts for offspring. This is according to a new study published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics.

With the growing availability of cannabis and the popularization of additional routes of cannabis use such as edibles beyond smoking, the prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy is rapidly increasing. However, the potential effects of cannabis use on fetal development remains unknown.

Cannabis
Cannabis has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use and comes from a bushy plant with thick sticky flowers called Cannabis Sativa

‘As the use of cannabis during pregnancy alters genes involved in neurobehavioral development, there is an urgent need to focus on health polices related to cannabis use. #Cannabis # neurobehavioral disorders #prenatalExposure’

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Cannabis consumption especially during the first trimester period when the fetus is most vulnerable to environmental exposures could reduce the common symptoms like morning sickness (). Keeping this in mind, a new study aimed to identify the potential long-term health impacts of THC use during pregnancy.

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy and Its Relationship with Fetal Developmental

Researchers conducted the study in a model using nonhuman primates. They administered THC in a daily edible and compared its effects to a group receiving a placebo. Specifically, researchers evaluated the epigenetic changes in areas that indicate healthy prenatal development such as the placenta, fetal lung, brain, and heart.

When looking at these areas, researchers found that THC exposure during pregnancy altered the placental and fetal epigenome —including the chemical modifications to DNA responsible for gene regulation and expression ().

Genes are the segments which make up DNA — are all specifically coded to contribute to different functions of the body and brain, so any impact due to drug exposure is concerning, especially during a critical developmental window such as pregnancy.

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy may Affect Child’s Mental Health
Is it safe to use cannabis during pregnancy? Children who were exposed to cannabis while in the womb show more symptoms of mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

They also found that that these changes to gene regulation and expression are consistent with those seen with many common neurobehavioral conditions, including autism spectrum disorder. These conditions are linked to adverse health outcomes including poor memory and verbal reasoning skills, and increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.

These study findings will add to the limited existing knowledge on THC use during pregnancy, and help guide patient counselling and drafting public health policies focused on cannabis in the future. Cannabis is one of the most used drugs, so there is a common perception that it’s completely safe to use. But the reality is that cannabis still carries many health risks for certain populations, including those who are pregnant ().

Teens Who Use Cannabis Likely to Have Premature Baby: Study
Teenagers who use cannabis frequently may be more likely to have children born preterm, when they become parents up to twenty years later.

If we can better understand the impacts of cannabis use on fetal growth, more effective communication about the risks to patients and support safer habits during the vulnerable prenatal period can be provided.

References:

Cannabis Exposure During Critical Windows of Development: Epigenetic and Molecular Pathways Implicated in Neuropsychiatric Disease(https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40572-020-00275-4)
Prenatal delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure is associated with changes in rhesus macaque DNA methylation enriched for autism genes(https://clinicalepigeneticsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13148-023-01519-4)
The Placental Epigenome as a Molecular Link Between Prenatal Exposures and Fetal Health Outcomes Through the DOHaD Hypothesis(https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40572-022-00354-8)

Why Do People Use Cannabis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
A new study provides interesting insights into motivations and the changing nature of reasons for cannabis use during different stages of reproduction.

Source-Medindia