Chemosphere. 2005 Dec;61(9):1244-55. Epub 2005 Jun 27.
Maternal-fetal distribution and transfer of dioxins in pregnant
women in Japan, and attempts to reduce maternal transfer with
Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) supplements.
Nakano S, Noguchi T, Takekoshi H, Suzuki G, Nakano M.
Saiseikai Nara Hospital, 4-chome, 8-jyo, Nara, Nara 630-8145,
Japan.
htakekoshi@sunchlorella.co.jp
Dioxins can be transferred from mother to fetus via the placenta,
or to
Nursing infants via breast milk, potentially causing developmental
health problems in children. To assess pediatric health risks from
dioxins, exposure of mothers and children to dioxins must be
clarified. Methods of reducing maternal transfer of dioxins should
also be investigated. Concentrations of 28 dioxin (polychlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and co-planar
polychlorinated biphenyls) congeners in blood, adipose tissue,
breast milk, cord blood and placenta collected from 44 pregnant
Japanese women were measured.
In addition, to investigate potential reductions in maternal
transfer of dioxins, 23 pregnant women were instructed to take
Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplements during pregnancy. Correlations
were observed between dioxin total toxic equivalents (total TEQ)
in blood and total TEQ in adipose tissue (r=0.913, P<0.0001),
breast milk (r=0.695, P=0.0007), and cord blood (r=0.759,
P<0.0001).
Dioxin levels transferred to fetuses and nursing infants reflect
cumulative maternal concentrations of dioxins. A linear regression
equation was introduced to predict total TEQ in breast milk and
cord blood from dioxin levels in maternal blood, which should
prove useful in evaluating fetal and infant risk of dioxin
exposure. Total TEQ in cord blood were approximately 26% lower
than in maternal blood (P<0.0001). The results of this study
suggest that transplacental transfer differs depending on the
dioxin congener. Total TEQ in breast milk were approximately 30%
lower in the Chlorella group than in controls (P=0.0113).
This finding suggests that maternal transfer of dioxins can be
reduced using dietary measures such as Chlorella supplement |
