Soy before birth could reduce offspring obesity risk, say scientists

By Lorraine Heller

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Folic acid Pregnancy Nutrition Genistein

The unhealthy, high-fat foods we consume may not be the only
culprits when it comes to obesity and related diseases, according
to US scientists who reveal that a pregnant mother's diet may
permanently increase- or reduce- her child's risk of becoming
obese.

The new research claims that a mother's consumption of a particular soy nutrient elicits changes in an embryo's gene behavior that can later reduce the risk of obesity.

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have revealed that mice fed diets rich in the soy component genistein gave birth to pups that remained slimmer as adults. According to the scientists, control group mice that did not receive prenatal genistein were double the weight of their genistein-fed counterparts.

"We are increasingly finding that our parent's and even our grandparent's nutritional status and environmental exposures can regulate our future risk of disease,"​ said Dr Randy Jirtle, senior author of the study.

"In other words, it may not only be the hamburgers and fries we are eating, but also what our parents consumed or encountered in the environment that predisposes us to various conditions,"​ he added.

Published in the April 1 issue of the journal Environmental Health Parspectives, the findings could explain why Asians, who consume large amounts of soy, have lower rates of obesity, said the researchers.

But genistein is currently viewed with some suspicion after a number of studies have linked it to certain negative health impacts in animal tests.

These include the disruption of ovary development and damage to human sperm, as well as inhibiting full sexual development and intestinal cell growth.

But in other studies, genistein has been shown to have potential health benefits, including prevention activity against hormone-responsive tumors, such as breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

The results of the current study claim to be another link in the chain of evidence that an individual's long-term health is influenced by prenatal factors, including diet.

According to Jirtle, certain environmental factors before birth can alter the way a specific gene behaves, without changing the genetic sequence in any way.

The Duke researchers found that genistein acted on a particular gene in mice, called the agouti gene. And although this does not act in the same ways in humans, the scientists claim that "soy's potential benefits could exert themselves"​ through other human genes.

"Our study demonstrates there are highly sensitive windows early in development when environmental exposures can permanently alter the offspring's adult susceptibility to disease,"​ said Jirtle.

"Therefore, we need to examine the effect of environmental exposures during pregnancy, not just in adulthood, if we want to accurately assess their risk or benefit to humans."

And according to the scientists, genistein may not be the only compound that can reduce the risk of obesity. Previous research by Jirtle showed that folic acid and vitamin B12 had the same affect when fed to pregnant mice.

However, Jirtle pointed out that it is still unclear as to how different nutrients interact in combination or in extremely high doses, suggesting the need for further research before the health benefits can be confirmed.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Content provided by ADM | 22-Mar-2024 | White Paper

Successfully navigating the intersection of food and technology can help your business meet evolving consumer demands.

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Content provided by Ayana Bio | 12-Jan-2024 | White Paper

Ayana Bio conducted the Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Pulse survey, offering insight into consumers’ willingness to consume UPFs, as well as the variables...

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Content provided by Rethink Events Ltd | 11-Jan-2024 | Event Programme

Future Food-Tech is the go-to meeting place for the food-tech industry to collaborate towards a healthier food system for people and planet.

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Content provided by T. Hasegawa USA | 08-Jan-2024 | Application Note

As consumers seek increased value and experience from food and beverages, the industry relies on research to predict category trends. Studying trends that...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars