Antioxidants Prevents Diabetes In New Born Children
Researchers of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have conducted a study to analyze the effect that antioxidants have before and throughout pregnancy in rats. According to neonatologist and senior author Rebecca A. Simmons, “We already know that there are critical periods during human development that influence the later development of obesity,” and that this study “…suggests that if we can prevent inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy, we may lower the risk that a child will develop obesity.” The premise that high-fat diets during pregnancy could increase the levels of oxidative stress may lead to obesity in the offspring of animals was tested.
Antioxidants Prevents Diabetes In New Born Children
Simmons and the co-author of the study, Sarbattama Sen also studied whether a diet that is rich in antioxidants could prevent obesity in offspring. One set of rats were fed a diet that was high in fat and carbohydrate while a control group was fed a balanced diet.
In two additional groups that were consuming both a high-fat, high-carb diet and a balanced diet, antioxidant vitamins were added. The rats that were fed a high-fat, high-carb diet had offspring which showed higher levels of inflammation and also oxidative stress.
They were also by just two weeks of age much fatter, while they displayed higher levels of glucose intolerance compared to the control group. On the other hand, rats that were fed the same diet along with antioxidants gave birth to offspring that had lower levels of oxidative stress and no obesity plus better tolerance of glucose. Regarding the study, Simmons observed, “These results suggest that if we prevent obesity, inflammation and oxidative stress in pregnant animals, we can prevent obesity in the offspring.” She went on to caution, however, that pregnant mothers should not have large doses of antioxidants, since this could lead to other complications for their child.
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