London: A new study has claimed that red wine may not be good women who are expecting as its "healthy" ingredient could actually harm the unborn child's pancreas.
According to the research, the drink contains an ingredient called Resveratrol, a 'wonder drug' which provides protection against obesity, but now it has been found that it may cause damage to the to the pancreas of the fetus, the Daily Express reported.
For the research, lead researcher Dr Kevin Grove and his colleagues observed health complications and blood flow through the placenta in two groups of obese female macaque monkeys, where one group was given resveratrol supplements every day throughout their pregnancy, while the other wasn't.
Earlier, it had been told that pregnant women could consume one small glass of wine every day without harming their baby's development, and resveratrol, which is found in some fruits, chocolate, nuts and red wine, is said to improve heart, muscle and bone functions.
However, the study found that there was a confirmed evidence of pancreatic abnormalities in the fetuses whose mothers were given resveratrol.
Dr Grove said that the results were crucial as women should be very careful about what they consume while pregnant, and they should not take supplements, like Resveratrol, without consulting with their doctors.
The study was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal.
