The Bad Habit Linked To Infant Obesity
Women who smoke during pregnancy face an increased likelihood of their offspring developing overweight or obesity, and scientists may have uncovered a potential explanation for this phenomenon.
Recent findings published in the journal Gut Microbes reveal that children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy exhibit significant differences in gut bacteria compared to those born to non-smoking mothers.
Anita Kozyrskyj, co-senior researcher and a microbiome epidemiologist at the University of Alberta in Canada, highlighted that while the correlation between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood obesity has been recognized for some time, the mechanisms behind this link have remained unclear. However, their study suggests that one pathway involves alterations in the infant’s gut microbiota.
Utilizing data from over 1,500 children enrolled in a long-term study of child development, researchers assessed the children’s weight at ages 1 and 3, along with collecting stool samples at 3 and 12 months of age.
The analysis revealed that the risk of excess weight in children was associated with elevated levels of a specific type of gut bacteria known as Firmicutes, and maternal smoking during pregnancy was linked to an increase in the abundance of this bacteria in the child’s gut.
Although Firmicutes are a normal component of gut bacteria and typically increase in infants shortly after birth, the study found that infants of smoking mothers experienced a premature and excessive rise in Firmicutes levels.
This elevation in Firmicutes can lead to an overproduction of a fatty acid called butyrate, the implications of which researchers are still investigating. While butyrate is a natural byproduct present in the intestines, elevated levels might contribute to weight gain in children, though the exact mechanism remains unclear.
Interestingly, the study also found that even if mothers reduced or quit smoking during pregnancy, their children still exhibited higher levels of Firmicutes bacteria. However, exclusive breastfeeding for the first three months of life seemed to mitigate the impact of maternal smoking on gut bacteria composition.
Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to gain a deeper understanding of the role Firmicutes bacteria play in weight regulation.
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