Low cholesterol link to early birth

Expectant mothers with very low cholesterol are at greater risk of having a premature baby, new research suggests.

A study led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in the US confirmed previous findings that high levels of maternal cholesterol can increase the chances of an early birth.

But in what was described as a "surprise twist", the team also found that low cholesterol in pregnant woman may also lead to premature birth and low weight of a newborn baby.

In a study of more than 1,000 women and their newborns, researchers discovered that 5% of women with moderate levels of cholesterol gave birth prematurely.

In contrast, around one in five mothers with low cholesterol and 12% with high cholesterol had premature babies.

Dr Max Muenke, the study's senior author and chief of the Medical Genetics Branch at the NHGRI's division of intramural research, said: "Based on our initial findings, it appears that too little cholesterol may be as bad as too much cholesterol during pregnancy, but it is too early to extrapolate these results to the general population."

Birth before full-term raises the risk of potentially disabling conditions such as cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness and respiratory illness.

Premature birth is also a major cause of infant death.

Dr Muenke added: "The right amount of cholesterol is fundamental for good health, both before and after birth.

"During pregnancy, cholesterol is critical for both the placenta and the developing baby, including the brain."

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