Pregnant women who eat more foods containing the polyunsaturated fats found in peanut butter and sunflower seeds increase their chances of having fatter children, according to research by the University of Southampton.
The polyunsaturated fatty acids commonly known as Omega 6 are found in peanut butter, certain plant oils and some nuts and seeds, including walnuts and sunflower seeds.
Researchers assessed the fat and muscle mass of 293 children at four-and six-years-old, who are part of the Southampton Women’s Survey, the only study in Europe of women and their children.
Their assessments were compared to the concentrations of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) which were measured in blood samples collected from their mothers during pregnancy.
The findings indicated that children who were born to mothers who had greater levels of PUFAs during pregnancy had a larger fat mass.
They also found that, conversely, mothers who consumed more of the polyunsaturated fats commonly known as omega 3, found in fish oil, sardines and mackerel, during pregnancy, were more likely to have children with less fat and more muscle.
Dr Nicholas Harvey, senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton, who co-led the study, said, ‘Obesity is a rising problem in this country and there have been very few studies of mother’s fatty acid levels during pregnancy and their children’s fat mass. These results suggest that alterations to maternal diet during pregnancy to reduce polyunsaturated intake might have a beneficial effect on the body composition of the developing child.’
Researchers assessed the fat and muscle mass of 293 children at four-and six-years-old, who are part of the Southampton Women’s Survey, the only study in Europe of women and their children.
Their assessments were compared to the concentrations of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) which were measured in blood samples collected from their mothers during pregnancy.
The findings indicated that children who were born to mothers who had greater levels of PUFAs during pregnancy had a larger fat mass.
They also found that, conversely, mothers who consumed more of the polyunsaturated fats commonly known as omega 3, found in fish oil, sardines and mackerel, during pregnancy, were more likely to have children with less fat and more muscle.
Dr Nicholas Harvey, senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton, who co-led the study, said, ‘Obesity is a rising problem in this country and there have been very few studies of mother’s fatty acid levels during pregnancy and their children’s fat mass. These results suggest that alterations to maternal diet during pregnancy to reduce polyunsaturated intake might have a beneficial effect on the body composition of the developing child.’
- The study, 'Maternal Plasma Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status in Late Pregnancy Is Associated with Offspring Body Composition in Childhood', is published in the January edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
