A research team led by Helmholtz Munich recently investigated the impact of a father's diet on his child's health, focusing on the influence of the father's diet before conception.
The experts investigated the role of specialised small RNA molecules in sperm known as mitochondrial tRNA fragments (mt-tsRNA), which are crucial in regulating gene expression.
Genetic material in sperm
A father passes on genetic material to his unborn child through his sperm. Each sperm cell has a set of 23 chromosomes, which contain the genes that contribute to various traits and characteristics of the child.
This genetic information combines with genetic material from the mother's egg, which also contains 23 chromosomes, to form a new set of 46 chromosomes in the child.
Our combined genetic material can affect everything from physical characteristics like eye color and height to genetic predispositions and certain health conditions.
The impact of fathers' eating habits on the future
The study leveraged data from the LIFE Child cohort, which includes more than 3,000 families. Analysis revealed that paternal weight influences children's weight and susceptibility to metabolic diseases, independent of maternal weight, parental genetics, and environmental factors.
To confirm their findings, the team carried out experiments on mice fed a high-fat diet, which affected the animals' reproductive organs, including the epididymis, where sperm mature.
“Our study shows that sperm exposed to a high-fat diet in the epididymis of mice produce offspring that are more prone to metabolic diseases,” said senior author Raffaele Teperino, head of the Environmental Epigenetics Research Group at the Helmholtz Institute. This shows that a father's diet can have a significant impact on the health of his offspring.
The impact of fathers' dietary habits on their children throughout their lives
Further laboratory studies have shown that sperm-derived mt-tsRNA influences gene expression in the early embryo, supporting the hypothesis that acquired traits can be epigenetically transmitted across generations.
“This study strengthens our hypothesis that phenotypes acquired throughout life, such as diabetes and obesity, can be transmitted across generations through epigenetic mechanisms,” explained co-author Martin Flave de Angelis, research director at Helmholtz Munich.
“Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to preventive health care for men who want to become fathers and that programs for this purpose should be developed, especially with regard to diet,” Teperino concluded.
Background of mt-tsRNA
Mitochondria are also known as the powerhouses of cells and contain their own DNA separate from the cell nucleus. Traditionally, it has been thought that mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) is inherited exclusively from the mother.
However, this and other recent studies have shown that sperm carry fragments of mt-RNA to the egg during fertilization, and these mt-tsRNAs play an important role in epigenetics by regulating gene expression in the early embryo.
“This implies that fathers have an indirect but important influence on mitochondrial imprinting and, consequently, on the energy metabolism of their children. This finding highlights new complexities regarding the influence of paternal factors on children's health.”
“Our study confirms that paternal fitness at the time of fertilization is important for offspring metabolism, shows that mt-tRNAs are induced by the diet and delivered by sperm, and demonstrates the transfer of sperm mitochondrial RNA from father to offspring at fertilization in a physiological context,” the study authors write.
The impact of materialistic eating on children
A mother's diet plays a vital role in shaping the health and development of her unborn child.
Components of development
The nutrients and other dietary components that a mother consumes are fundamental for her child's growth and development.
For example, essential nutrients such as folate, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids directly support the development of the fetal brain, bones, and vital organs.
Adequate intake of these nutrients can significantly reduce a child's risk of developmental abnormalities and chronic health problems.
Malnutrition
On the other hand, lacking these important nutrients or consuming an unbalanced diet can lead to complications.
For example, a folate deficiency can increase the risk of neural tube defects, and a calcium deficiency can affect the skeletal development of the fetus.
Unhealthy eating habits
Moreover, consuming too much harmful elements such as sugar and unhealthy fats can make children more susceptible to obesity, diabetes and even cardiovascular disease in the future.
The impact of a mother's diet goes beyond her physical health and may also affect her child's cognitive development and immune function.
The research is published in the journal Nature.
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