Daily walking during pregnancy increases the production of a breast milk compound that can help prevent diabetes, obesity, and heart disease in children who eat it.
- The researchers monitored 150 pregnant women using exercise trackers.
- The team then measures the levels of a compound responsible for health in milk.
- A small amount of daily exercise increased the compound in human breast milk.
- They also fed mice with inactive breast milk from a more active mother.
- They found in mice that those who received milk from a more active mother were healthier
A daily walk during pregnancy is “good for the baby,” as it could increase the production of a compound in breast milk that helps prevent obesity and diabetes in the baby.
Scientists at Ohio State University studied 150 pregnant women and new mothers using fitness trackers to find out how much activity it took to make an impact.
They found that even moderate exercise was enough to increase 3SL, a compound in breast milk that is linked to lowering a baby’s risk of serious health problems.
The team says this compound could even be added to the formula to provide the same health benefits for babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.
Scroll down to watch the video
Andrea Berardi breastfeeds her 5-month-old daughter. A new study found that regular exercise increases the benefits of breast milk.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Kristin Stanford of Ohio State University, said previous studies have shown that maternal exercise can improve the health of her children.
For this study, they wanted to find out why it worked and started with the assumption that it was transmitted in breast milk rather than in their genes.
“Because there is evidence that breast milk plays an important role, we wanted to isolate the effects of breast milk on the health of the offspring,” said Stanford.
The team started by studying mice born to inactive mothers and gave them milk from mothers that were active during pregnancy.
They found the health benefits of the mothers transferred to the puppies, showing that they actually went through breast milk and not simply inherited genetic traits.
The researchers also followed around 150 pregnant women and postpartum mothers using activity trackers and measured the level of 3SL in their breast milk.
They found that those who completed the most steps had the most 3SL in their breast milk, which they believe is responsible for these health benefits.
“The increases in 3SL were not necessarily related to exercise intensity, so even moderate exercise like a daily walk is enough to reap the benefits,” said Stanford.
“Exercise is also great for your overall health during and after pregnancy, so anything you can do to move will benefit both you and your baby.”
Andrea Berardi runs with her dogs and a stroller with her 5-month-old daughter Simone. A new study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds that regular exercise increases a compound in a woman’s breast milk that provides lifelong health benefits.
The team says this compound could even be added to the formula to provide the same health benefits for babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.
Mothers transmit many traits to their babies, including negative, positive and neutral traits, not only through genetics but also through milk.
Many women are unable to breastfeed or experience complications requiring bed rest, so the team is now looking for ways to add this to the formula.
Dr. Stanford said that the oligosaccharide in human milk, compound 3SL, had a significant impact on babies’ health.
“Being able to add this to the formula could provide benefits for babies when women are unable to breastfeed,” he said.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
.
