Mom's pregnancy diet may disrupt children's gut health

16th September 2025 - Medical Xpress

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A high-sugar, high-fat diet during pregnancy may do more than affect a mom's health—it can also trigger inflammation and gut dysfunction in their children, new research suggests. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology—Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, found that poor maternal nutrition impairs intestinal barrier function in the next generation. The article has been chosen as an APSselect article for September.

Researchers studied pregnant nonhuman primates that were fed a high-sugar, high-fat "Western" diet. They analyzed the mothers' blood, RNA and proteins to measure inflammation and cell death. After birth, the researchers examined intestinal tissues from the offspring to evaluate the effect of maternal nutrition on gut health.

The offspring of mothers fed a Western diet showed significantly higher levels of inflammation in their intestinal tissue compared to those whose mothers consumed a healthier diet. This "generalized inflammatory state" may help explain why some children develop gastrointestinal problems later in life. It also highlights the potential for early intervention strategies or therapeutic targets during pregnancy.

Researchers also found increased levels of fat globules—tiny pieces of fat droplets inside fat cells—in the intestines of the offspring exposed to a Western diet. Fat globules may weaken the gut's protective barrier, and they can absorb more of a toxic substance that is released by bacterial cells when they die. This toxin can create inflammation and plays a role in the development of inflammatory bowel conditions.

Overall, this "research examines a currently understudied area of the maternal/fetal relationship," the researchers wrote. Decreased function of the intestinal barrier and increased levels of inflammation can "prime" newborns for a variety of "potential long-term health implications."