Playing sports during pregnancy improves the health of children

(ANSA) - ROME, JULY 01 - Doing moderate exercise during pregnancy increases a compound in breast milk which in children reduces the risks, throughout life, of serious health problems such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. To say it is a study carried out by the Wexner Medical Center and the College of Medicine of Ohio State University which was published in the scientific journal Nature Metabolism. The researchers analyzed around 150 pregnant women and found that those who did sports had a greater amount of a compound known as 3sl in breast milk, responsible for some health benefits. "The increase in 3sl was not necessarily related to the intensity of the exercise, so even moderate exercise such as a daily walk is sufficient to reap the benefits," comments Kristin Stanford, professor of physiology and cell biology who led the work. The study started by studying some mice born to sedentary mothers fed with milk from mothers active during pregnancy. It is here that they discovered that the health benefits of mothers were transferred to the puppies, showing that, in fact, they passed through breast milk and not simply inheriting its genetic traits. Since many women are unable to breastfeed or have complications that require bed rest, researchers are examining whether they are able to isolate this beneficial compound found in the breast milk of active mothers and add it to baby milk formulas. "This oligosaccharide of human milk has had a significant impact on healthy offspring. Being able to add it could provide benefits for children when women are unable to breastfeed, "Stanford continues. (HANDLE).