Through a study into epigenetics it has revealed that, ‘you are what you mother didn’t eat during pregnancy.’ Epigenetics is a change in phenotype or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than a change in DNA sequencing.
The University of Utah has recently conducted a study into the effect of malnutrition on foetuses. This was conducted by depriving rat foetuses of nutrition in the womb. The studies showed that the deprived rats became genetically primed to be born into an environment lacking food. As a result of this adaptation the rats grew smaller and became risk to diseases such as diabetes, growth retardation, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurodevelopment delays.
The experiment was preformed also performed on a control group of rats. The protein IGF-1 which promotes normal growth and development, was tested for in both of the rats, 21 days after birth, which is seen as the preadolescent stage for rats. Not receiving sufficient nutrition had caused the gene that produces the protein IGF-1 to reduce the amount of the protein made before and after birth, limiting growth and development.
Humans and rats share the same proteins that were affected and the same cellular processes involved. This adaption affects the health of many generations afterwards. It is now proven that mothers must eat for two, to provide sufficient nutrients for the fetus. More research needs to be done to understand how the foetal environment affects the health of the off spring.
Abbie Taylor
42043605Reference: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1684030761&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=48651&RQT=309&VName=PQD
