Obesity in pregnancy increases risk of cardiovascular disease in offspring: Study
May 13, 2022
New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): According to a new study led by the University of Colorado, maternal obesity impairs heart health and the function of the foetus.The study was published in the journal, 'The Journal of Physiology'.This is the first study to show that the heart is 'programmed' by the nutrients it receives in foetal life. Changes in the expression of genes alter how the heart normally metabolises carbohydrates and fats. They shift the heart's nutrient preference further toward fat and away from sugar. As a result, the hearts of fetuses of obese female mice were larger, weighed more, had thicker walls and showed signs of inflammation. This impairs how efficiently the heart contracts and pumps blood around the body.
