MILLIONS of women may be susceptible to miscarriage or having children with birth defects as a result of carrying genes for a common enzyme deficiency, research on mice suggests.
The enzyme neutralises free radicals, reactive chemicals that damage cells. So if human studies confirm the link, it may be possible to prevent some miscarriages and birth defects by reducing the levels of free radicals circulating in women’s bodies-by giving them antioxidants, for instance.
Miscarriage is thought to occur in at least 15 per cent of pregnancies. Many factors have been implicated as possible causes (see Table). But usually, doctors…
