Brazilian study finds father's pre-conception diet affects newborn body composition
A Brazilian study of 43 families reveals that a father's consumption of ultra-processed foods before conception is associated with higher birth weight and increased fat in the baby's thighs and suprailiac region. Researchers suggest this occurs via epigenetic modifications in sperm, such as methylation of the paternal IGF-II gene. Conversely, maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods early in pregnancy is linked to lower birth weight and smaller infant measurements, potentially due to poor placental development.
Paternal ultra-processed food consumption
▪A study of 43 families in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, analyzed the impact of fathers' pre-conception diets on newborn health.
▪Ultra-processed foods, particularly processed meats, sugary drinks, and cookies, accounted for an average of 30% of the total energy consumed by fathers in the study.
Newborn body composition effects
▪Greater paternal consumption of ultra-processed foods before conception was associated with higher birth weight and increased fat in the baby's thighs and suprailiac region.
▪A previous study by the same research team found that overweight fathers tended to have babies with lower birth weights.
Epigenetic sperm modifications
▪Paternal dietary habits can biochemically modify the IGF-II gene in sperm through methylation, thereby influencing fetal development.
▪Researchers hypothesize that ultra-processed foods create a pro-inflammatory environment that alters gene expression in sperm, such as the paternal IGF-II gene regulating fetal growth.
Maternal dietary impacts
▪Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods up to the 16th week of pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight, shorter height, and smaller head circumference.
▪The negative impact of maternal ultra-processed food consumption on fetal measurements may be linked to impaired placental development due to nutrient-poor diets.
Birth weight health predictor
▪High birth weight and elevated body fat early in life are risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood.
▪Babies born with low or high birth weights face increased risks of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers later in life.
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