Exploring the impact of mum’s diet on her baby’s health

Healthy eating during pregnancy is just as important as at any other time in a woman’s life but there’s increasing evidence that this can benefit baby as much as mum.

Scientists in Southampton are investigating this further so healthcare professionals can give expert advice to expectant mums.

Researchers at the University of Southampton, working in collaboration with King’s College London, have found in animal studies that unhealthy diets in pregnancy can increase the offspring’s risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life. But there’s still a lot to learn about how diet in pregnancy can have this effect over such a long time period.

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The scientists at Southampton, with a grant of over £100,000 made possible by your support, are looking at the network of tiny blood vessels called the microcirculation. They believe this could be the part of the circulatory system that is susceptible to damage from poor diet during pregnancy.

The microcirculation is responsible for delivering important nutrients and oxygen to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Through learning how diet can damage these blood vessels, the Southampton team hopes to find out more information that could improve the health advice given to pregnant women.