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Liver stress in fetus due to Mother's high-fat diet
A recent study in Liver International reveals that a high-fat, high-sugar maternal diet can cause liver stress in unborn babies, increasing their risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in early life.
Bile acids, essential for digestion, become toxic at high levels. While mothers can detoxify them, fetuses lack this ability, leading to bile acid buildup in the fetal liver. This early exposure may contribute to MASLD, which affects up to 30% of youth and raises risks for obesity and diabetes.
By the juvenile stage, offspring of mothers on a high-fat diet showed liver damage, fibrosis-related collagen buildup, and altered liver gene function. These effects persisted even after weaning onto a normal diet.
The study highlights the critical role of maternal nutrition in shaping a child's long-term health, emphasizing the importance of healthy eating during pregnancy to prevent metabolic diseases in future generations.
17-03-2025