Genes: An Extra Hurdle To Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy?

Smoking during pregnancy is regarded as a major faux pas in society today, due to its association with low birth weight and problems at birth. However, researchers from the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Bristol, have identified a common genetic variant that explains why some women may find it more difficult to quit smoking during pregnancy.
The researches investigated whether the genetic variant that is related to greater cigarette consumption was also responsible for a reduced likelihood of quitting smoking during pregnancy.
7,845 women participated in the study. Out of these 7,845 women, 2,474 women smoked regularly immediately before they became pregnant. The study analysed the association between the variant and smoking cessation and smoking quantity during pregnancy.

The results of the study indicate that there is a relationship between the genetic variants that influences increased cigarette consumption , therefore making it harder for the expecting mothers to quit during pregnancy. 47% of women with two copies of the non-addictive gene had stopped smoking compared to only 34% of women with two copies of the smoking addiction gene.

While, genetically some women struggled to quit smoking, the results indicate that a considerable proportion of women did manage to quit, despite inheriting two addition copies of the gene.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514221927.htm