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Junk food pregnancy diets 'pose long-term risks'

01/07/2008

Women who eat an unhealthy, 'junk food' diet while pregnant could raise the risk of their child developing irreversible health problems, according to new research.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College found that problems that could be experienced in adulthood due to maternal diet include obesity, raised levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.

A study published last year carried out by the same team showed that rodents which ate a diet rich in fat, sugar and salt while pregnant were more likely to give birth to offspring that over-ate and had a preference for junk food when compared to the offspring of rats given regular feed.

In today's follow-up study, published in the Journal of Physiology, the researchers argue that a mother's diet has an effect lasting beyond adolescence in rats, even when the offspring were weaned off the junk food, affecting how their bodies metabolise the food and suggesting a long-term health impact.

The researchers compared the offspring of rats fed a diet of processed junk food such as doughnuts, muffins, biscuits, crisps and sweets during pregnancy and lactation with those fed a healthy diet of regular feed.

The offspring of the mothers fed junk food diets had raised levels of cholesterol as well as higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream. Both are known to increase the risk of developing heart disease.

Similarly, the offspring had higher levels of glucose and insulin, both of which increase the likelihood of developing type two diabetes.

The study analysed the rats beyond adolescence through to adulthood and observed that the rats were still fatter than those whose mothers had eaten a healthier diet while pregnant and breastfeeding.

The researchers argue that although the study was carried out in rats, the findings have implications for humans.

"Humans share a number of fundamental biological systems with rats, so there is good reason to assume the effects we see in rats may be repeated in humans," said Professor Neil Stickland.

"Our research certainly tallies with epidemiological studies linking children's weight to that of their parents."

Dr Stephanie Bayol added: "It seems that a mother's diet while pregnant and breastfeeding is very important for the long term health of her child.

"We always say 'you are what you eat'. In fact, it may also be true that 'you are what your mother ate'. This does not mean that obesity and poor health is inevitable and it is important that we take care of ourselves and live a healthy lifestyle. But it does mean that mothers must eat responsibly whilst pregnant."