This Thursday, October 25, Inserm published a Press release relaying a study appeared in The Faseb Journal, published in August about restrictive diets during pregnancy. The body recalls that feeding during gestation is decisive on the state of health of the unborn child, and on his life as a future adult. The study was carried out by a team of researchers from Inserm in collaboration with INRA and the University and CHU of Nantes.
Less protein during pregnancy
Maternal malnutrition can have repercussions on the fetus, which can last throughout life. Many studies have already demonstrated the effects on cardiovascular or cognitive development. But this study looked at the digestive tract: what consequences can mother’s food have on the child’s digestive system during pregnancy? Conducted in rats, the study experimented with halving the protein intake of mothers throughout gestation and lactation. Then, they were reintroduced in weaned pups.
The study was mainly interested in two aspects: the transit, that is to say the speed of passage of the stool, and the permeability of the digestive tract, or the “ability to pass nutrients and other molecules through the intestinal wall to the bloodstream“According to Inserm. Result? Everything is accelerated in the pups whose mothers were deficient. In addition, the researchers note that the stress hormone level is higher than normal. Moreover, when faced with a stressful situation intense, the subjects do not see their digestive activity accelerated, unlike the non-deficient pups.
Poor stress response
This last aspect reveals “poor ability to respond to stress“according to one of the researchers, Hélène Boudin. The researchers”found that the stress hormone induces an excess of neurons stimulating intestinal motility and permeability“Underlines Inserm. Either the digestive nervous system was modified. These excess neurons are incapable of naturally eliminating waste and toxins.
Through this study, Inserm questions the consequences of involuntary deficiencies caused by restrictive diets during gestation. And shows that perinatal stress influences the digestive health of the offspring, until adulthood.
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