Fast Food In Men's Diets Linked To Malformations Of Their Future Children

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Fast food in men's diets linked to malformations of their future children

Studies by Canadian scientists have shown that the nutrition of men before conception has the same great effect on the health of future offspring as the nutrition of women. A lack of folate (vitamin B9) in a father-to-be increases the risk of congenital malformations in children, according to work published in the journal Nature Communications.

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Studies by Canadian scientists have shown that the nutrition of men before conceiving a child has as great an impact on the health of the offspring as the nutrition of women. A lack of folate (vitamin B9) in a father-to-be increases the risk of congenital malformations in children, according to work published in the journal Nature Communications.

It is known that in order to prevent miscarriages and birth defects, expectant mothers need to take in a sufficient amount of folic acid, which is found in various green leafy vegetables, fruits, cereals and meats. Scientists from McGill University have shown for the first time that the level of vitamin B9 in the body of men also plays a large role in the development and health of their future children.

"Although folic acid is nowadays added to many foods, men who eat fast food, high-fat or obese men may not be able to use and synthesize enough folic acid." noted study lead author Sarah Kimmins.

Scientists came to this conclusion in a study on mice: they compared the offspring of male mice, in whose diet was sufficient or deficient in vitamin B9. As a result, it was found that a deficiency of this vitamin in males increases the risk of birth defects in offspring. {# vrez.58357}

“The offspring of male mice with low folate levels were found to have 30% more birth defects,” said Romain Lambort, one of the study's authors. "We found serious skeletal anomalies, including craniofacial and spinal deformities."

According to the authors of the work, in the epigenome of male germ cells there are areas that are sensitive to external influences, in particular, to diet. An epigenome is a collection of all the factors that determine which genes should work and which ones should be turned off. This mechanism works like a switch, responding to signals from the external environment, and is involved in the development of many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. As scientists note, in the long term, genetic information modified by external influence can cause changes in development in the offspring and lead to metabolic disorders.

"Our research has shown," said Dr. Kimmins, "that men need to watch what they drink and eat and remember that they are responsible for the health of future generations." Scientists now plan to study the effects of diet and overweight in men on the health of their future children.