Researchers have found that consuming excessive amounts of fat during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, a finding that may also apply to humans. The study was conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in the United States and was published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Endocrinology.
The researchers divided 24 female Japanese macaques into two groups and fed them different diets. One group of macaques was given a high-fat diet, while the other group's fat intake was only half of the former.
The results showed that the macaques who consumed high-fat diets were more likely to experience stillbirth compared to the control group. These macaques had a 38% to 56% reduction in blood flow from the uterus to the placenta and were more prone to placental inflammation.
The researchers pointed out that regardless of whether the macaques were overweight or not, consuming high-fat diets during pregnancy increased the risk of stillbirth. The situation would be even more severe if they also had obesity and symptoms of excessive insulin in their blood.
This study demonstrates that diet during pregnancy has a significant impact on placental and fetal development. The researchers stated that they will conduct further research to determine why high-fat diets interfere with the mother's blood supply to the fetus.
