A mother's diet during pregnancy may improve brain function in her grandchildren
The effects of foods consumed during pregnancy may be inherited by future generations. The results of the study are published in Nature Cell Biology.Researchers from Monash University used genetic analysis of model animals (roundworms) to assess whether positive effects associated with a mother's diet can be inherited. Those that eat apples and herbs early in pregnancy may protect the brain health of their children and grandchildren, the biologists found.
The scientists used Caenorhabditis elegans roundworms as a genetic model for evaluation. These nematodes share genes with humans that allow them to assess the effects of similar exposures in human cells. In addition, the nervous system of these worms consists of only 302 neurons, the connections between which are fully characterized. The researchers created a model of worms with "fragile" axons - long branches of neurons. In such animals, the connections between neurons broke down with age.
The researchers found that ursolic acid, a molecule found in apples and herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage), helped prevent axons from breaking down. This substance activated the gene responsible for the formation of sphingolipid. This fat prevented axon fragility as the animals aged, improving axon transport and therefore overall health.
At the same time, the researchers showed that when ursolic acid was consumed early in pregnancy, sphingolipid was formed in the intestine and transferred to eggs in the uterus. Feeding the worms this fat during pregnancy had the effect of protecting axons from destruction in two subsequent generations: not only in the children, but also in the "grandchildren."
The researchers note that if the results are confirmed in clinical trials in humans, this substance and this effect could be used to develop nutritional supplements for pregnant women to protect children and future generations from neurodegeneration and other problems associated with impaired brain function.