Luigia Trabace1, Paolo Tucci2, Lucia Ciuffreda2, Maria Matteo3, Francesca Fortunato3, Patrizia Campolongo4, Viviana Trezza5, Vincenzo Cuomo4. 1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy. Electronic address: luigia.trabace@unifg.it. 2. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy. 3. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy. 4. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy. 5. Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome 00146, Italy.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In the South of Italy the use of herbal remedies to alleviate pregnancy-related symptoms is very common. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the proportion, prevalence of use, attitude and knowledge base in a sample of Italian pregnant women in the South of Italy. To explore the possible influence and risks of herbal consumption on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted during the study period November 2010-September 2013. Six hundred and thirty expectant mothers were interviewed within three days after childbirth in a public Hospital in the South of Italy. RESULTS: Due to a lack of data, a total of six hundred interviews were considered. Four hundred and eighty six women (81%) reported to have constantly used at least one herbal product throughout the pregnancy period. The study enrolled mostly women between 31 and 40 years of age, with a middle-high level of education, married and employed. The most commonly used herbal products, taken by oral route and for the entire period of pregnancy, were chamomile, fennel, propolis, cranberry, lemon balm, ginger, valerian and mallow. The most relevant source of information for the majority of participants was the doctor (95%), and most of the women (72%) informed their doctors about their use of herbal remedies. CONCLUSIONS: The regular chamomile consumption resulted in a higher risk of pre-term delivery, lower birth weight and lower length of the newborn. Also a regular use of fennel resulted in a shorter gestational age. Finally, ginger intake resulted in a shorter gestational age and in a smaller circumference of the newborn's skull.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In the South of Italy the use of herbal remedies to alleviate pregnancy-related symptoms is very common. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the proportion, prevalence of use, attitude and knowledge base in a sample of Italian pregnant women in the South of Italy. To explore the possible influence and risks of herbal consumption on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted during the study period November 2010-September 2013. Six hundred and thirty expectant mothers were interviewed within three days after childbirth in a public Hospital in the South of Italy. RESULTS: Due to a lack of data, a total of six hundred interviews were considered. Four hundred and eighty six women (81%) reported to have constantly used at least one herbal product throughout the pregnancy period. The study enrolled mostly women between 31 and 40 years of age, with a middle-high level of education, married and employed. The most commonly used herbal products, taken by oral route and for the entire period of pregnancy, were chamomile, fennel, propolis, cranberry, lemon balm, ginger, valerian and mallow. The most relevant source of information for the majority of participants was the doctor (95%), and most of the women (72%) informed their doctors about their use of herbal remedies. CONCLUSIONS: The regular chamomile consumption resulted in a higher risk of pre-term delivery, lower birth weight and lower length of the newborn. Also a regular use of fennel resulted in a shorter gestational age. Finally, ginger intake resulted in a shorter gestational age and in a smaller circumference of the newborn's skull.