According to a new investigation from Warwick Medical School, the risk of developing diabetes, obesity and heart conditions is partially pre-determined whilst in the womb. Pregnant women who improve their diet and increase their vitamin intake can lower the likelihood of their unborn child developing these risks in the future.
The investigation, in collaboration with the University of Southampton and the Kind Edward Memorial Hospital, in Pune, India, analyzes pregnant women and follows the growth and development of their babies.
Dr. Ponnusamy Saravanan, Associate Clinical Professor in Diabetes, Endocrine & Metabolism at the University of Warwick, will reveal the discoveries of the investigation at the Warwick Medical School’s International Symposium on Human Metabolism Research, hosted by the University’s Professor Sudhesh Kumar. Professional speakers in metabolism from around the world including Denmark, Singapore, Boston and Sweden, have been invited to discuss the challenges in fighting obesity.
Saravanan explains:
“We are, without doubt, facing an obesity epidemic in this country. With each generation we are becoming more overweight and developing more cases of associated conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
We have found that mothers with low vitamin B12 gave birth to babies with features suggestive of them developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases soon after birth and at 6 years.
We believe that the micro-nutrients (vitamins) in a woman’s diet fundamentally influence how the DNA functions, and this gene-diet interaction determines, at least in part, whether you are going to be more prone to being overweight as an adult. So this very early ‘in-utero’ stage can be critical in mapping out your adult health. Warwick’s research on the functions of fat cells (adipocytes), indeed shows such imbalance of micronutrients fundamentally affects how energy is handled by these cells.”
Dr Saravanan concluded:
“Our research is still ongoing, with a further phase beginning early next year, but all the indications show that we need to establish more ‘primordial prevention’ which means taking preventive action before these conditions develop, to improve our nation’s future health and reduce the cost of treatment for the NHS.”
The International Symposium for Advances in Human Metabolism Research will showcase the new £1.9m Human Metabolism Research Unit (HMRU) based at University Hospital in Coventry. HMRU will improve Warwick’s ability and capacity to carrie out world-class research into metabolism and the conditions connected with obesity.
Written by Grace Rattue