Fast food could leave long-term impact on breast milk and infant health, study reveals

(All image credit: University of Cambridge).

01 Aug 2022 --- Short-term exposure to a fast food diet adversely affects women’s health and decreases their capacity to produce nutritious breast milk after giving birth. This may impact the newborn’s health and raise the possibility that the mother and child would later develop potentially fatal diseases like diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

This is according to a UK-based University of Cambridge-led study conducted on lab mice that details that even before birth, a mother’s breast milk and the health of her unborn child might be significantly impacted by a diet high in sugar and fat, such as burgers, fries and carbonated beverages.

“In the mother, excess sugars and fats lead to oxidative stress and the release of inflammatory chemicals. These can negatively affect the development of the placenta – the supply line between the mother and her developing fetus,” Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, professor in fetal and placental physiology, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, tells NutritionInsight. 

Calls for industry action
She explains that fast foods tend to contain higher amounts of simple sugars and saturated fats than the mother’s body and growing fetus need.

Considering these findings’ impact on the nutrition industry, Sferruzzi-Perri notes: “The cost of fresh, healthy food options should be reduced – so that it is more affordable especially given the increasing living costs.”

“We suggest the introduction of vouchers, rebates or discounts by governments to make it easier for women in pregnancy and lactation to purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meat and fish.”

Impact on fetus development
According to the researchers, even women who seem to have a healthy weight may be suffering from hidden conditions like fatty liver, as a result of consuming a diet high in processed foods, which are frequently high in fat and sugar. Liver failure and extensive scarring (cirrhosis) may result from this.

The quality of milk proteins was shown to be poor in mice mothers eating high fat, high sugar diet.“Excess sugars and fats also compromise breast tissue development and milk production, affecting the mother’s ability to nurse her baby after birth. In the case of the developing fetus, excess sugars and fats can overload the body as the fetus isn’t able to process the extra nutrients properly,” adds Sferruzzi-Perr.

“This nutritional overload can lead to oxidative stress in the fetus, which disrupts the growth and function of individual tissues and organs, like the pancreas and liver.”

“Additionally, changes in the development and function of fetal organs can directly impact the baby’s health both before and after birth,” she continues.

Updating nutrition policies
Researchers add that it is already known that a “Western-style” diet high in fat and sugar is a significant cause of the rising body mass index and obesity spreading not just in developed countries but also in emerging countries urbanizing, like Chile. Because of this, 52.7% of women worldwide are overweight or obese when they conceive, making it difficult to get pregnant and to stay healthy.

Regarding nutrition policies, Sferruzzi-Perri advises: “More improved and easier to understand targeted nutritional advice to people at reproductive age about the importance of healthy eating and lifestyle.”

Researchers note that easier to understand targeted nutritional advice to people of reproductive age about the importance of healthy eating is needed.“This could be through improved nutritional and dietary advice given by GPs and healthcare practitioners who speak with couples planning pregnancy and who perform antenatal checks. It could also be in the form of suggested meal plans, food options and food swaps.”

Additionally, there is a need for greater awareness among people of all ages about the health benefits of healthy diets, Sferruzzi-Perr explains.

Sferruzzi-Perr also gives insight into the types of foods that are suitable for optimum milk production in breastfeeding mothers: “Food products with natural, rather than highly processed ingredients are suitable as well as a balanced diet of lean meats, fish and legumes for protein, whole grains, raw nuts, fruits and leafy vegetables.”

“Avoidance of food and drinks that are high in fat and sugar and drinking a lot of water rather than soft drinks and juices that can be high in sugar is advised.”

Analyzing obese mice’s pregnancy
In mice, obesity has previously been induced, but the majority of research focuses on the consequences of long-term, chronic high-fat, high-sugar diets.

In this study, mice were given a diet of processed high-fat pellets with sweetened condensed milk for three weeks before conception, for three weeks of pregnancy, and three weeks after delivery.

The nutritional value of a fast food burger, fries, and sugary soft drink was mimicked by this diet. The goal was to ascertain the effects on fetus growth, fertility, and neonatal outcomes.

The researchers found that even a brief (short term) high fat, high sugar diet affected the survival of the newborn mouse pups, with a higher mortality rate when the mother was feeding her young.

The quality of milk proteins was shown to be poor in mice mothers eating high fat, high sugar diet, even though milk proteins are crucial for the development of newborns.

By Nicole Kerr

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