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Poor Maternal Diet Increases the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Later in Life
March 16, 2011
Understanding adverse gene programming in the womb (epigenetic changes) is a key part of the new frontier of science. Researchers have now proven that a lack of protein in the diet1 during pregnancy (malnutrition) induces a malfunction setting in a key gene known as Hnf4a, in turn leading to significantly increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.
Hnf4a is a key gene involved with the production of insulin by your pancreas. This gene activity declines with age and its decline is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The fact that the gene can be adversely set while in the womb is a novel discovery. The combination of a poor epigenetic setting along with “normal” loss of function during aging is a difficult problem.
On the one hand, it shows that as a society we have a responsibility to help the mothers of unborn children have good nutrition for the benefit of their child’s future health. After all, that child didn’t have any say in the matter and is now stuck with a poor dealing of the genetic deck.
There have already been similar discoveries. For example, protein malnutrition leads to a lack of full development of the kidneys, resulting in later life risk for elevated blood pressure.
Future mothers need to understand the extreme importance of good nutrition during pregnancy and the first few years of life for their child. It has a major impact on the quality of health for a lifetime. The future of our society depends on it.
Hnf4a is a key gene involved with the production of insulin by your pancreas. This gene activity declines with age and its decline is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The fact that the gene can be adversely set while in the womb is a novel discovery. The combination of a poor epigenetic setting along with “normal” loss of function during aging is a difficult problem.
On the one hand, it shows that as a society we have a responsibility to help the mothers of unborn children have good nutrition for the benefit of their child’s future health. After all, that child didn’t have any say in the matter and is now stuck with a poor dealing of the genetic deck.
There have already been similar discoveries. For example, protein malnutrition leads to a lack of full development of the kidneys, resulting in later life risk for elevated blood pressure.
Future mothers need to understand the extreme importance of good nutrition during pregnancy and the first few years of life for their child. It has a major impact on the quality of health for a lifetime. The future of our society depends on it.
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