Studies suggest moms can prevent brain damage risk before births

Research conducted on mice at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis mimicked hypoxic ischemic injuries in newborn mice, finding rodents whose mothers drank water mixed with pomegranate concentrate during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first seven days of post-birth suckling lost 60 percent less brain tissue than mothers who drank sugar water or other fluids.

Hypoxic ischemic injury stems from low oxygen and reduced blood flow and can lead to seizures, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy and other birth abnormalities. The birth injuries usually occur in premature infants born before 34 weeks of gestation, but if the research translates to humans, more moms may soon consider drinking pomegranate juice to help reduce risks of brain damage in their babies, like cerebral palsy.

The study also showed 84 percent less activity in an enzyme implicated in cerebral destruction. Because hypoxic ischemic brain injury in newborns is so difficult to treat, consequences like cerebral palsy can occur, with no ability to reverse the damage sustained. The research aimed to identify ways of preventing the birth injuries from ever occurring.

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