Pregnant Women Warned to Beware Licorice

Pregnant women are frequently warned to avoid drugs unless their obstetrician has specifically verified that they are safe. Now, a study from Finland suggests that they should also have their candy selections vetted. In particular, pregnant women should avoid natural licorice.
Over 1000 children born in Helsinki in 1998 have been followed for more than a decade. In 2006 the children were given a battery of neuropsychological tests, including intelligence, vocabulary and spatial motor skills. Those whose mothers had eaten a lot of black licorice during pregnancy scored less well than those whose mothers had eaten little or no licorice. They had also more behavioral problems and symptoms of aggressiveness and attention deficit disorder. An ingredient in licorice, glycyrrhizin, affects hormones and appears to have a negative impact on fetal brain development. Based on these findings, women should be cautious about consuming natural licorice during pregnancy.
[American Journal of Epidemiology, Nov. 1, 2009]