Infants of women who smoke between one and nine cigarettes a day during pregnancy are at a 20 percent higher risk of fracture. This shows new research from Örebro University and the University Hospital in Örebro.
If the woman smokes more than ten cigarettes a day, the risk increases by 41 percent, the study shows.
The researchers also saw a slight increased risk of fractures in people between 5 and 32 years.
- Unlike previous studies, we have been able to make comparisons between siblings and thus take into account family factors, such as inheritance and environment. Our results show that smoking during pregnancy can have a direct effect on fetal bone health, which affects the risk of fracture during the first year of life, says Scott Montogomery, professor at the Department of Medical Sciences at Örebro University, according to a press release.