Pregnancy diets and DNA: Nourishing the following technology

Pregnancy could be a whirlwind of anticipation and preparation however amid the joy, it can be crucial to not overlook the position of a well-balanced diet. The adage “you are what you eat” could be extra profound than ever throughout pregnancy however vitamin is not simply fuelling mom-to-be, it’s laying the muse for the infant’s lifelong health.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Deepika Suresh, Genomics Specialist and Chief of Staff at Xcode Life, shared, “A mother’s choices while pregnant can echo throughout the child’s life. It’s a truth that’s been whispered down the generations, from mother to child, but only recently has science confirmed its gravity. An eye-opening example comes from the Dutch famine of 1944-1945 during World War II, when food was scarce and pregnant women subsisted on a meagre 400-800 calories per day. Research conducted on children conceived during this period revealed they were at a higher risk of developing conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The effects of the famine were even observed at the genetic level, with modifications in DNA chemical prints, which resulted in the “silencing” of genes concerned in vitality utilization and fats and glucose breakdown. This contributed to unhealthy modifications in how their our bodies functioned.”

These startling revelations are a part of a rising area of research generally known as nutrigenomics and it is a mouthful, positive nevertheless it’s a time period that describes how our vitamin interacts with our genes to form our well being. Genes regulate the dietary consequence of the meals we eat and our food regimen influences how effectively our genes perform.

Deepika Suresh defined, “While the genetics of a baby is determined at the time of conception, their epigenetics keep evolving. Epigenetics? Think of it as tiny switches that can turn genes on or off. What controls these switches? Well, largely your diet. An optimal diet keeps the good, protective genes “on” and the bad, disease-prone genes “off.” So, one can say that what the mother eats while pregnant can make or break the child’s health. Increasing evidence demonstrates that children born to mothers who consumed a calorie-dense Western diet during pregnancy were at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Deficiencies in micronutrients have been associated with neurodevelopmental issues. Lack of vitamin B9, vitamin B12, zinc, and iodine, common with vegetarian and vegan diets, can harm brain development. These deficiencies can lead to conditions like neural tube defects and developmental disorders. Studies have shown that if mothers take supplements for these nutrients during pregnancy, especially early on, it can decrease the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in their children, including autism, ADHD, and even schizophrenia. So, a mother’s diet significantly affects the risk of these disorders in their offspring.”

Now that we all know maternal vitamin holds the important thing to the kid’s well being, what’s the optimum being pregnant food regimen? Deepika Suresh answered, “Genes play a crucial role in shaping how your body reacts to certain types of food. This also applies when you’re pregnant. Let’s dive in with a few examples. Consider the MTHFR gene; it helps transform folate (vitamin B9) from your food into a form your body can use. If you have a certain variant, you might need more folate-rich foods or supplements to prevent possible congenital disabilities. This is why most doctors prescribe folic acid supplements to those pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Iron is an essential nutrient, especially during pregnancy, as it aids in delivering oxygen to the baby. Some people, however, have a variant in the HFE gene, which can cause the body to absorb too much iron. Along with the increased risk of maternal complications, it can also lead to growth problems in the fetus and congenital abnormalities.”

She elaborated, “The FADS1 gene is also a crucial player in shaping pregnancy diet. It helps convert the good fats from plant sources like flaxseeds and walnuts into a usable form beneficial to the body. This is an important process, as good fats are crucial building blocks for fetal brain development. If you have a variant in this gene, it is important to get your good fats through animal sources like fish or consider nutritional supplements. To say it simply, there is no “one-size-fits-all” pregnancy diet. The time-honored advice on pregnancy diets, while useful, might not account for the intricate interplay between food, our genes, and our health. These insights into nutrigenomics highlight the importance of personalised dietary recommendations for pregnant women. The better we understand the relationship between genes and nutrition, the better we can protect the health of future generations.”