Antioxidants in pregnancy prevent obesity in animal offspring

New biological research may be relevant to the effects of a mother’s high-fat diet during pregnancy on the development of obesity in her children. An animal study suggests that a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet causes oxidative stress — an excess of deleterious free radicals — during pregnancy, predisposing the offspring to obesity and diabetes. Feeding rats antioxidants before and during pregnancy completely prevented obesity and glucose intolerance in their offspring.

Antioxidants in pregnancy prevent obesity in animal offspring

New biological research may be relevant to the effects of a mother’s high-fat diet during pregnancy on the development of obesity in her children. An animal study suggests that a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet causes oxidative stress — an excess of deleterious free radicals — during pregnancy, predisposing the offspring to obesity and diabetes.