Maternal Nutrition Has Profound Effects On Infant Health
By MedHeadlines • Apr 15th, 2008 • Category: Children's Health, Diet, Family, Medical Research, Pregnancy, Prevention, Women's HealthThe link between good nutrition during pregnancy and healthy babies was established many years ago. A new study shows that the nutritional choices made prior to conception can also have profound effects on your baby’s health.
The study, which was published in the current edition of The Journal of Physiology, states that even before conception maternal diet is vital to the health of the next generation. Poor nutrition around the time of fertilization and egg implantation may be detrimental to your child’s health for years to come. Even as the egg first leaves the ovary and begins to mature, it is subject to nutritional deficiencies that can have adverse effects on the unborn child.
The researchers in the study fed female mice a low-protein diet during one three and a half day ovulatory cycle, then let the mice mate. They studied the offspring and the results were significant, with the baby mice suffering from an area of physical problems.
“They were hypertensive, had poorly functioning blood vessels that did not relax properly when treated, had kidneys of abnormal structure and size and exhibited reduced exploratory activity,” said study author Adam Watkins. “These disturbing effects cannot necessarily be extrapolated to the human condition, but do illustrate the need to investigate whether such a link might exist in women.” Without a doubt, a nutritious, well-balanced eating plan can be one of the greatest gifts you give to your soon-to-be-born baby.
Source: Wiley-Blackwell, EurekAlert!
