Disrupted eating schedules during pregnancy can affect brain health in both the mother and the fetus by increasing inflammation linked to gut dysbiosis.
On May 2nd, the Journal of Neuroinflammation published a study by Chinese researchers Xinyue Wang, Xiangju Kong, and colleagues from Harbin Medical University. The article explores how irregular mealtimes during pregnancy impact the brain of both mother and fetus, based on a rodent model.
I believe this study will be especially useful for anyone who is planning a pregnancy or currently expecting. It's well known that metabolic abnormalities during pregnancy increase the risk of neurological disorders in both the mother and the child.
What did the study examine?
Researchers investigated how feeding female rats only during their inactive phase affects:
- behavior and anxiety levels,
- fetal brain development,
- and gut microbiota balance.
The study highlights the importance of circadian rhythms and eating patterns. When food intake is mismatched with the body’s internal clock, it causes a disconnect between peripheral and central circadian rhythms. This mismatch can contribute to metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and mood disorders.
So, the timing of food intake plays a critical role in maintaining metabolic health.
Why is this important during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a highly sensitive and vulnerable period, both in humans and animals. And although this study was conducted on rats, its findings could be highly relevant to human pregnancy research. They may also help shape future dietary recommendations for pregnant women.
Study design
The experiment involved 20 ten-week-old female rats, divided into two groups. After mating, one group was placed on a restricted feeding schedule. Researchers then assessed:
- anxiety-like behavior,
- maternal gut microbiota composition,
- inflammatory markers in the blood.
Results
1. Fasting during the active phase of the day increased inflammatory cytokines in maternal blood and reduced antioxidant capacity.
2. Gut permeability increased, and gut microbiota balance was disrupted (notably a decrease in Akkermansia and an increase in Dubosiella).
3. Changes in the expression of circadian genes in the intestine were observed, along with increased gut inflammation.
4. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) — a large fat-sugar molecule that triggers inflammation — entered the mother’s bloodstream, activated TLR4, crossed the weakened placental barrier, and reached the fetal brain, increasing inflammation there.
Final thoughts
It’s astonishing how something as subtle as meal timing — when misaligned with our biological clock — can have such a profound effect on the health of both mother and baby.
Thank you for your time! See you soon! )))
