Research had shown that diet taken during pregnancy not only decides the health of the fetus, it may affect the health of children of children as
Research had shown that diet taken during pregnancy not only decides the health of the fetus, it may affect the health of children of children as well.
In a study to understand fetal development and mother’s diet, scientists of Mexico had found out about long-term influence on the genetic code of the fetus that may affect the health of the next few generations. Their research had provided evidence that adverse effects of intrauterine environments can be passed genetically from mother to daughter to next generation of offspring’s, especially the expression of several chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.During the study, scientists have exposed first generation of female rats to a protein-restricted diet during pregnancy and lactation. The female babies born from this generation of rats had babies with altered glucose and insulin metabolism. The female babies of this generation were also born with low birth weights. The second generation of baby rats had developed insulin resistance since birth, but only in one set of male babies and one set of female babies from totally different parentage.
This showed that maternal diets have strong influence over the health of the children one generation removed as well, and at times this difference may be gender specific as well.
