The study, conducted by researchers at Syracuse University in the US, suggests a simple dietary change, such as supplementing the fish oil taken by fathers, to help address a growing health concern.
The team's previous study demonstrated the benefits of fish oil supplementation in mothers to reduce the risk of childhood obesity.
The new study, conducted on about 150 rats, showed that male rats that consumed fish oil supplements had offspring that weighed less and had better metabolic health than rats that did not.
Latha Ramalingam, assistant professor in nutrition at Syracuse University, shared that the study shows "how parents, beyond just genetics, influence the well-being of their offspring".
“Fish oil, a readily available and safe supplement, could become a powerful weapon in our fight for a healthy next generation,” he said.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the number of youth aged 5 to 19 suffering from obesity is expected to increase from 31 million in 1990 to 160 million in 2022. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and high blood pressure. And can also cause high cholesterol and poor self-esteem and depression.
Additionally, the study showed that the offspring of rats that were fed a healthy low-fat diet and were born to men who received fish oil weighed less than the offspring of men who did not receive fish oil. was less in days 7 and 21.
"This concept offers significant potential to reshape our strategies to combat childhood obesity," Ramalingam said.
The findings will be presented at Nutrition 2024, the major annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held June 29-July 2 in Chicago.
The team's previous study demonstrated the benefits of fish oil supplementation in mothers to reduce the risk of childhood obesity.
The new study, conducted on about 150 rats, showed that male rats that consumed fish oil supplements had offspring that weighed less and had better metabolic health than rats that did not.
Latha Ramalingam, assistant professor in nutrition at Syracuse University, shared that the study shows "how parents, beyond just genetics, influence the well-being of their offspring".
“Fish oil, a readily available and safe supplement, could become a powerful weapon in our fight for a healthy next generation,” he said.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the number of youth aged 5 to 19 suffering from obesity is expected to increase from 31 million in 1990 to 160 million in 2022. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and high blood pressure. And can also cause high cholesterol and poor self-esteem and depression.
Additionally, the study showed that the offspring of rats that were fed a healthy low-fat diet and were born to men who received fish oil weighed less than the offspring of men who did not receive fish oil. was less in days 7 and 21.
"This concept offers significant potential to reshape our strategies to combat childhood obesity," Ramalingam said.
The findings will be presented at Nutrition 2024, the major annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held June 29-July 2 in Chicago.