Children born to women who consume large amounts of licorice in pregnancy have lower levels of intelligence and more behavioral problems, according to a Finnish study published in this month’s Journal of Epidemiology.
Of the children who took part in the Finnish study, 64 were exposed to high levels of glycyrrhizin in liquorice, 46 to moderate levels and 211 to low levels. They were tested on a range of cognitive functions including vocabulary, memory and spatial awareness. Behaviour was assessed using an in-depth questionnaire completed by the mother.
The results suggested that women who ate more than 500mg of glycyrrhizin per week – found in the equivalent of 100g of pure liquorice – were more likely to have children with lower intelligence levels and more behavioural problems. The eight-year-olds were more likely to have poor attention spans and show disruptive behaviour such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the researchers said.
The research comes after a study which suggested that liquorice consumption was also linked to shorter pregnancies.( via the BBC News)
I have to say that while the findings are concerning, the researchers did not control for maternal intelligence or perform psychiatric tests on the mothers in their study. Their surrogate for intelligence was socio-economic and educational status, which is a poor substitute in my estimation.
That said, the findings make sense in terms of what we already know about licorice and its effects on the body. Licorice in large amounts is generally not considered safe in either children or adults, and can induce headache, fluid retention, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and potassium loss. The culprit is the root of the herb glycyrrhiza, the component of licorice that gives it its sweet and distinctive flavor. and which has cortisol-like properties. (Licorice actually used to be used to treat Addisons, and licorice craving can be a symptom of the disease.) In pregnant women, excess glycyrrhiza is proposed to inhibit the deactivation of maternal cortisol by the placenta, leading to abnormally high cortisol levels in the fetus.
While the FDA considers licorice to be safe as a flavor but not a sweetener, the European Union advises against consumption of more than 100 grams daily and requires that products containing licorice be clearly labeled as to this constituent.
These findings make it necessary to provide labelling which gives the consumers clear information on the presence of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt inc onfectionery and beverages. In the case of high contents of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in these products, the consumers, and in particular those suffering from hypertension, should in addition be informed that excessive intake should be avoided. To ensure a good understanding of these information by the consumers, the well known term ‘liquorice extracts’ should be preferably used. (From the Offical Journal of the EU)
European licorice tends to be much stronger than American licorice, some of which may not contain licorice at all, but is flavored with anise, fruit extracts and corn syrup. (Red licorice is really not licorice at all, just flavored fruit candy.) If you’re not sure what you’re eating, read the label – if licorice extract is listed, you’ve got the real thing.
How much licorice extract is safe? Your guess is as good as mine, since I could not find milligram amounts on any licorice candy products I searched. My advice would be to play it safe and avoid licorice candy during pregnancy. (Hmm… maybe they should change the name from “Good and Plenty” to “Good only in small amounts”…)
This is just one more case highlighting the urgent need for the FDA to be given regulatory authority over herbal food supplements.
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Licorice Plant Image from the USDA website
Licorice image copyright Bert Folsom, via Big Stock Photo
My wife craved licorice when she was pregnant but didn’t eat it. It was very hard for her!