The researchers stressed that their findings don't mean it's OK for pregnant women to smoke, but the study results could lead to an effective treatment of last resort if a woman is unwilling to stop smoking when pregnant
According to federal health statistics about 12% of women keep smoking during pregnancy This is despite the warnings and health campaigns warning of serious risks to the fetus.
Smoking during pregnancy can cause premature delivery, growth retardation and has been blamed for 5 percent to 10 percent of all fetal and neonatal deaths.
Maternal smoking can also cause decreased pulmonary function and increased respiratory illness in offspring.
The study focused on three small groups of monkeys. Seven monkeys studied were given two milligrams of nicotine a day which is the average dose a smoking woman receives from cigarettes.
The lung development and breathing ability of those monkeys were compared to seven babies born to mothers who received the same amount of nicotine but also received 250 milligrams of vitamin C daily.
The control group of monkeys were given no vitamin C and no nicotine. The study demonstrated that those babies whose mothers were given both nicotine and vitamin C were closer to normal than those who did received nicotine but no vitamin C.
