There's an old phrase that an expectant mother is eating for two. A new study indicates it's more apt than was known. A bad diet can actually alter a baby's genes.
If a mother rat does not eat well, her offspring exhibit genetic changes that affect what they'll become. Because the genes and cellular mechanisms involved in the study are very similar to those in humans, researchers think the study is relevant to us.
Specifically, rat fetuses receiving poor nutrition in the womb become genetically primed to be born into an environment lacking proper nutrition, the researchers figure; they were likely to grow to smaller sizes than their normal counterparts. The poorly nourished rats were also at higher risk for a host of health problems throughout their lives, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and neurodevelopmental delays.
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