Exercise during pregnancy may be as effective
in protecting the next generation from age-related health risks as
efforts made during the offspring's own adulthood, new research
suggests. Kevin Pearson, associate professor at the University of
Kentucky Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, will
present preliminary findings on the long-term effects of physical
activity during pregnancy at the American Physiological Society's
Integrative Biology of Exercise 7 meeting in Phoenix.
Oxidative stress is damage to the body caused by an accumulation of
unstable molecules called free radicals. The buildup of free radicals
decreases resistance to stress and increases the risk of obesity and
age-related and chronic disease. Reducing oxidative stress can help
lessen the risks of conditions such as cancer, heart disease and type 2
diabetes.
The research team examined markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin sensitivity in mice that were born to mothers who were exercised while pregnant. The offspring of the exercised mice had better stress resistance and improved insulin sensitivity, even into adulthood, than those born to sedentary mothers.
"To date, caloric restriction has been the most reproducible and promising intervention to improve these outcomes. An intense and expanding area of research is focused on discovering other short-term or easily achievable interventions that can have long-lasting beneficial effects," the researchers wrote.
The results of the rodent studies also have implications for human health. "Our findings highlight pregnancy as a sensitive period when positive lifestyle interventions could have significant and long-lasting beneficial effects on offspring metabolism and disease risk," wrote the research team.
The research team examined markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin sensitivity in mice that were born to mothers who were exercised while pregnant. The offspring of the exercised mice had better stress resistance and improved insulin sensitivity, even into adulthood, than those born to sedentary mothers.
"To date, caloric restriction has been the most reproducible and promising intervention to improve these outcomes. An intense and expanding area of research is focused on discovering other short-term or easily achievable interventions that can have long-lasting beneficial effects," the researchers wrote.
The results of the rodent studies also have implications for human health. "Our findings highlight pregnancy as a sensitive period when positive lifestyle interventions could have significant and long-lasting beneficial effects on offspring metabolism and disease risk," wrote the research team.
No comments:
Post a Comment