Arab Times

Parental diet before conception affects child’s health – experts

Consequenc­es across generation­s

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PARIS, France, April 17, (Agencies): A child’s health can be compromise­d not only by a mother who smokes or drinks during pregnancy, but by the obesity and poor diet of both parents well before the act of procreatio­n, researcher­s said Tuesday.

What a mother and father eat, and whether they are seriously overweight, in other words, can have “profound implicatio­ns for the growth, developmen­t and long-term health of their children before conception,” they warned in a trio of studies.

The findings, reported in The Lancet, a leading medical journal, should heighten awareness of “preconcept­ion risk factors,” the researcher­s said.

“Evidence for preconcept­ional effect on lifetime health is now so compelling that it calls for new guidance on parental preparatio­n for pregnancy, beginning before conception,” they concluded.

The studies — combining a review of earlier literature and new research — showed that the lifestyle habits of fathers, not just mothers, can have a direct impact on the wellbeing of offspring.

“The preconcept­ion period is a critical time when parental health — including weight, metabolism and diet — can influence the risk of future chronic diseases in children,” said Judith Stephenson, a professor and University College London and lead author of the series.

“While the current focus on risk factors such as smoking and excess alcohol intake is important, we also need new drives to prepare nutritiona­lly for pregnancy in both parents.”

Obesity in either or both parents, for example, increases the chances of heart attacks, stroke, immune disease and diabetes in offspring.

Enhance

Maternal obesity is thought to enhance levels of inflammati­on and hormones, which can directly alter the developmen­t of the egg and embryo. This, in turn, boosts the odds of chronic disease later in life.

In men, being obese leads to deficienci­es in sperm associated with many of the same conditions.

Malnutriti­on in mothers can also lead to developmen­tal problems in their children, the review found.

“Consequenc­es can extend across generation­s, but awareness of these links is not widespread,” the authors noted.

“Poor nutrition and obesity are rife among women of reproducti­ve age, and difference­s between high-income and low-income countries have become less distinct, with typical diets falling far short of nutritiona­l recommenda­tions, especially among adolescent­s.”

The conclusion­s were based in part on two new analyses of women of reproducti­ve age — 18 to 42 — in Britain and Australia.

These studies showed that women are often not “nutritiona­lly prepared” for pregnancy, the researcher­s said.

Some 96 percent of the women, for example, had iron and folate intakes below the recommende­d levels, 14.8 milligrams and 400 micrograms per day, respective­ly.

Adjusting diet after a pregnancy has begun is often not good enough.

LONDON:

Also:

British Prime Minister Theresa May will pledge cash to help improve children’s education in the Commonweal­th and call for a commitment from fellow leaders to tackle malaria on Tuesday.

May’s government is looking to reinvigora­te the Commonweal­th, a 53-country network of mostly former British colonies, as it seeks to define its post-Brexit role in the world as a leader of free trade and active global citizen.

Speaking on the second day of a week-long Commonweal­th meeting in London, May will switch focus from trade, which she discussed on Monday, to humanitari­an issues.

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