Malnutrition during pregnancy is harmful to offspring

The results of the study show that lack of nutrition during pregnancy threatens the latter with obesity and diabetes.

Scientists think that if a woman does not get enough food during pregnancy, the future child may be born "programmed" to deal with malnutrition. That is, as they grow older, the child's body perceives the normal amount of food, as the abundance of food, the digestive system can not handle. Instead of having to digest food, the body begins to store it as fat, and the child gets the higher the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as diabetes type 2 diabetes.

According to the researchers, epigenetic changes, in this case, can be transmitted to the next generation, increasing the chances of having health problems have grandchildren. A study conducted on mice showed the effects of malnutrition from the mother to the child and grandson. Scientists from Cambridge University and Harvard medical school say the results may explain why diabetes has become such a big global problem. Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith said: "When food is scarce, children may be born pre-programmed to deal with malnutrition. In case of a sudden abundance of food, their bodies can't handle it, and they can develop metabolic disorders.

Source: nauka24news.ru/