Talk True is a 糖心原创 limited series for medical myth-busting. With each episode, we鈥檒l talk to medical professionals about commonly misunderstood health issues to get the actual facts.
When it comes to pregnancy in Nigeria, there are multiple myths that just don鈥檛 make sense. What do you mean if you walk over a pregnant woman, her child will look like you? Is it spiritual DNA or what?
But when trended on X a few days ago, about how the local drink called 鈥渮obo鈥 causes miscarriages, we just had to ask: Is this a myth, or is this claim backed by science? We鈥檝e got answers.
First off, what鈥檚 zobo?
Zobo is a popular Nigerian drink made from dried roselle leaves (Hibiscus sabdariffa). It is also referred to as Sobolo (Ghana) and Bissap Juice (Senegal) and is usually infused with pineapple, ginger and cloves. It鈥檚 well-known for some medicinal qualities 鈥 antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-obesity.
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Does it really cause miscarriages?
According to Dr Ojo, a gynaecologist in Lagos who鈥檚 been practising for over a decade, it is a possibility.
鈥淭he research is sparse, but a show that hibiscus sabdariffa 鈥 the zobo leaves 鈥 might stimulate uterine contraction and contribute to maternal malnutrition. You might think, 鈥淏ut we aren鈥檛 rats鈥. However, it鈥檚 an indicator that it may be unsafe for pregnant women.
Ironically, it can also be bad for you if you鈥檙e trying to avoid pregnancy as it contains phytoestrogen, which can disrupt the effectiveness of oestrogen-based birth control pills.鈥
Other medical sources also note that zobo can , which isn鈥檛 what you want while pregnant.
What about the women who didn鈥檛 miscarry after taking zobo?
Dr Ojo confirms that this happens too.
鈥淟ike I said, it is a possibility. What might cause a specific reaction in Person A might not do anything in Person B.
There are minimal studies on human subjects to confirm or deny that zobo causes miscarriages, but I鈥檝e personally seen at least one related case. I usually suggest that it鈥檚 a risk you鈥檙e better off not taking. You have the rest of your life to drink it; nine months won鈥檛 do anything.鈥
Could pineapples be the problem?
Pineapple, an important ingredient in most zobo drinks, contains an enzyme called , which is believed to cause uterine contractions 鈥 the 鈥渃ramps鈥 during menstrual periods and labour.
However, a found that pineapple juice only caused significant uterine contractions when applied directly to the isolated uterus (womb) of pregnant rats. No contractions were recorded when live pregnant rats ingested pineapple juice. Also, the amount of bromelain found in pineapples doesn鈥檛 supply a large enough dose to trigger a uterine reaction.
So, unless you find a way to bring out your womb and pour pineapple juice on it, or your doctor prescribes avoiding it, it鈥檚 safe to take pineapples while pregnant.
The takeaway
Zobo may not be the culprit in most miscarriages, but research shows it鈥檚 a possibility. The drink may also interfere with oestrogen-based birth control pills to actually lead to pregnancy.
But while zobo has numerous other health benefits, pregnant women should avoid it unless their medical providers give the go-ahead. Remember what they say about prevention being better than cure? Exactly.
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