Mom’s Pregnancy Diet May Disrupt Children’s Gut Health

Rockville, Md. (September 16, 2025)-A high-sugar, high-fat diet during pregnancy may do more than affect mom's health-it can also trigger inflammation and gut dysfunction in their children, new research suggests. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, found that poor maternal nutrition impairs intestinal barrier function in the next generation. The article has been chosen as an APSselect article for September.

Researchers studied pregnant nonhuman primates that were fed a high-sugar, high-fat "Western" diet. They analyzed the mothers' blood, RNA and proteins to measure inflammation and cell death. After birth, the researchers examined intestinal tissues from the offspring to evaluate the effect of maternal nutrition on gut health.

The offspring of mothers fed a Western diet showed significantly higher levels of inflammation in their intestinal tissue compared to those whose mothers consumed a healthier diet. This "generalized inflammatory state" may help explain why some children develop gastrointestinal problems later in life. It also highlights the potential for early intervention strategies or therapeutic targets during pregnancy.

Researchers also found increased levels of fat globules-tiny pieces of fat droplets inside fat cells-in the intestines of the offspring exposed to a Western diet. Fat globules may weaken the gut's protective barrier, and they can absorb more of a toxic substance that is released by bacterial cells when they die. This toxin can create inflammation and plays a role in the development of inflammatory bowel conditions.

Overall, this "research examines a currently understudied area of the maternal/fetal relationship," the researchers wrote. Decreased function of the intestinal barrier and increased levels of inflammation can "prime" newborns for a variety of "potential long-term health implications."

Read the full article, "Maternal Western diet increases inflammatory markers and decreases barrier function of offspring in Papio anubis." It is highlighted as one of this month's "best of the best" as part of the American Physiological Society's APSselect program. Read this month's selected research articles.  

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more research highlights in our Newsroom.  

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.