How Poor Maternal Diet Can Increase Risk Of Diabetes

A research conducted that was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has shown that insufficient nutrition in the womb can result in someone contracting type 2 diabetes and other diseases later in their life. Such findings are important as it will help identify people who are at risk of contracting these diseases, and also develop treatments.

These findings made by a group from the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Toxicology Unit at Leicester University were published on January 6 in the Cell Death and Differentiation journal.

According to the research, both in rats and humans, the individuals that experience inadequate diet when in the womb, find it difficult to store fats as required later in their lives. It is important that fats get stored in the correct places because they can end up accumulating in other areas like the liver thus increasing the chances of getting diseases.

According to Professor Anne Willis, excess calories are stored in fat cells. However, when the cells fail to store the excess calories, the fats get deposited in other areas like the liver, and such can lead to development of type 2 diabetes.

The team discovered that the process is managed by a particular molecule known as the miR-483-3p, which they found was being produced in large quantities in individuals that were exposed to inadequate diet while in the womb compared to those who were well nourished. The team found out that the miR-483-3p molecule suppressed the protein referred to as GDF3 after conducting a study on a group of individuals that had low birth weight, and observing that the GDF3 was only 30 percent of the normal levels.

It is thus important that scientists work diligently to understand the fundamental biology of the body in order for use to remain healthy even in old age. The identification of a mechanism that relates maternal diet to diabetes will greatly help in averting the various metabolic diseases.

Related reviews