Having Junk Food Cravings Increases Risk Of Breast Cancer Among Future Generations
Bad news for all you moms-to-be looking forward to gorging on junk food during pregnancy. New research highlighted by the AP
claims that pregnant women who gorge on fatty foods might be increasing
the chances of their daughters and even grand-daughters developing
breast cancer in later life.
The study conducted by scientists at Georgetown University involved feeding pregnant rats either a normal diet or one much higher in fat. They later observed members of the rat's female offspring, and found that those born from moms that ate junk food had a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer tumors. This risk remained present even when the offspring were fed healthier diets.
The researcher theorize that this might have to do with fattier diets being linked to higher levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen, which was observed in another group of rat who were fed on both a high fat diet and given oestrogen supplements. While the findings have not been confirmed in humans, Dr Sonia de Assis said:
The study conducted by scientists at Georgetown University involved feeding pregnant rats either a normal diet or one much higher in fat. They later observed members of the rat's female offspring, and found that those born from moms that ate junk food had a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer tumors. This risk remained present even when the offspring were fed healthier diets.
The researcher theorize that this might have to do with fattier diets being linked to higher levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen, which was observed in another group of rat who were fed on both a high fat diet and given oestrogen supplements. While the findings have not been confirmed in humans, Dr Sonia de Assis said:
‘What a mother eats or is exposed to during pregnancy can increase her daughter’s breast cancer risk.
‘What we found for the first time is that increased breast risk of those daughters can be passed down to grand-daughters and even great-grand daughters and that is without any further exposures.
‘This study is important because it may help our understanding of the origins of some breast cancers.’
Basically, the researchers believe eating an unhealthy diet can permanently alter the cells of an unborn baby as well as future generations. ‘What we found for the first time is that increased breast risk of those daughters can be passed down to grand-daughters and even great-grand daughters and that is without any further exposures.
‘This study is important because it may help our understanding of the origins of some breast cancers.’
