Women who eat an excessive amount of licorice-containing foods (licorice), during pregnancy, put their child at risk for intellectual and behavioral disorders, say Finnish and British doctors from the Universities of Helsinki and the University of Edinburgh.

According to experts, the main component of licorice, glycyrizine, has a negative effect on the placenta and allows stress hormones to pass from mother to fetus. A high level of such hormones called glucocorticoids adversely affects the development of the infant's brain and is associated with behavioral disorders in childhood.

In the course of the study, scientists determined that eating more than one hundred grams of liquorice per week by pregnant women affected the child's intellect and behavior in the future.

Such children performed worse tests to identify cognitive potential and often had behavioral problems, scientists said..

Also, doctors noticed that excessive consumption of licorice contributed to the reduction of pregnancy, and in children caused cardiac and metabolic disorders. According to the authors of the study, pregnant women should avoid foods with licorice, including various flour products, syrups, compotes, caramel and pastille.

Medicinform. Net.