We are all aware of the importance of eating healthy food, especially during pregnancy. A high-fat diet has dramatic consequences on the metabolism. It can lead to obesity, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and possibly cancer. Previous works have demonstrated that eating high amounts of fat during pregnancy affects the taste preference and metabolism in offspring. In most households, children and parents eat the same food. In other words, mums eating a high-fat diet will likely feed their children fatty foods. What are the consequences of maternal and early-life exposure to high amounts of fat on the offspring? This is what researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have explored in a study published in Scientific Reports.The researchers used a rat model to investigate the effect on taste preference of a two-generational (i.e., pregnant mother and young newborns) exposure to a high-fat diet. Pregnant and lactating females were fed a high-fat diet, while a control grou
Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) found that offspring exposed to a high-fat diet in utero, during breastfeeding, and in early life gained more weight and consumed more calories. The offspring also developed a preference for the salty taste due to an upregulation of AT1 expression in the taste buds. Thus, eating less fatty food during gestation and early life might contribute to preventing pathological metabolic changes.
Everyone understands the significance of eating a nutritious diet, particularly while pregnant. The metabolism is drastically impacted by a high-fat diet. Obesity, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and perhaps even cancer can result from it. Previous studies have shown that eating a lot of fat during pregnant impacts the baby's metabolism and taste preferences.
In utero and early life exposure to high-fat diets result in a preference for foods that are higher in salt later in life, a new study reports. Researchers say high-fat diets increase the expression of the AT1 protein in the taste buds. This occurs as early as three weeks of age. AT1 is associated with a preference for salty tastes and researchers suggest AT1 affects salty taste preference by increasing sodium intake in taste bud cells.