Report says early nutrition could affect child’s later health

LONDON A report published in The Journal of Physiology and released by a group of British researchers stated that women who do not follow healthy diets during pregnancy might see higher risk level for their children to face elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and obesity.

The Royal Veterinary College, working with a group of rats, experimented feeding one group of females only processed foods like chips, cookies, donuts and other sweets while they were pregnant and nursing. Another test group of female rats got a diet of regular feed.

After a prolonged diet, the female rats and their offspring were compared. Researchers said the offspring of the rats that were fed a junk food diet had higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, two agents known to cause cancer, in their blood. They also had higher levels of glucose and insulin, which are tied to heightened risks of Type 2 diabetes. The rats given the junk food diet remained fatter through adolescence and into adulthood.

Professor Neil Stickland said that even though this study and all if its implications were conduced exclusively on rats, the findings could probably be attributed to humans as well.