How pregnant womens’ fitness could ‘fix’ their baby’s health
Women who exercise while pregnant could greatly boost their child’s health by reversing the effects of unhealthy diabetes-causing genes inherited from their fathers.
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Mums-to-be who exercise while pregnant could stop unhealthy genetic markers — that are passed on from father to child — from causing diabetes, a new study has shown.
Victoria University researchers have found exercise could reverse the diabetes-causing effects of genes from an obese father, if undertaken before and during pregnancy.
The study, conducted in rats, found that by doing so, low insulin secretion and glucose tolerance — which are common in children with diabetes — could be “fixed” and the chances of a child developing diabetes dramatically reduced.
Professor Glenn McConell, an expert in exercise metabolism, said while the findings had only been proven in animals, it was “likely” the same changes were also true of humans.
“You can’t change your genes, but what you can do is things that, during your life, mean this tag or epigenetic marker is more or less likely to be turned on,” he said.
“Basically, what we found was that with the mum exercising she was able to prevent a reduction in the glucose tolerance and the insulin secretion of the offspring.
“It’s a double whammy — and we think it’s likely that a similar response would happen in humans.”
The study is the first to look at the impact a mother’s behaviour can have on factors caused by unhealthy fathers.
Pre-natal pilates instructor Kathryn Kemp, who works at My Mama Said in Seddon, said safely exercising while pregnant held a number of benefits for both mother and baby.
Ms Kemp, who is 30 weeks pregnant with her second child, said it was important for mothers to know their limitations and listen to their body.
“It’s incredibly important to keep you and your baby healthy,” Ms Kemp said.
“You feel so much better for going some exercise – and devoting that time to yourself and your baby — and it helps keep you strong and healthy.”
She said the benefits of exercise on both physical and mental health could not be underestimated.
Prof McConell and co-author Dr Filippe Falcao-Tebasare, from Monash University, are now hopeful their study will pave the way for further research, and even human trials.
“There’s so much obesity in the country today,” Prof McConell said.
“We know that the most common scenario nowadays is both the mum and the dad are overweight, and there are socio-economic factors in humans too.
“But you’ve got to start somewhere.”
The preclinical study saw rats partake in up to an hour of exercise five days a week in the four weeks prior to falling pregnant, and then for three weeks after conceiving.
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