A mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly impact a child’s long-term health and new research suggests a potential way to mitigate risks associated with high-fat, high-sugar diets. A study conducted at the University of Oklahoma found that a compound produced by healthy gut bacteria, called indole, offered protection against fatty liver disease in offspring of mice fed a Western-style diet.
The findings, published in the journal eBioMedicine, add to a growing body of research focused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition increasingly recognized in both adults and children. MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is closely linked to diabetes and can progress more rapidly in children.
The Rising Prevalence of Childhood MASLD
According to Jed Friedman, Ph.D., director of the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and professor of biochemistry and physiology in the OU College of Medicine, approximately 30% of obese children and 10% of children without obesity are affected by MASLD. “Unfortunately, the risk is higher if a mother is obese or consumes a poor diet,” Dr. Friedman stated. “The disease in children is silent and typically isn’t discovered until a parent seeks help for their child for liver-related symptoms.” This silent progression underscores the importance of preventative strategies.
Investigating the Gut Microbiome’s Role
The study, led by Dr. Friedman and Karen Jonscher, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and physiology in the OU College of Medicine, aimed to determine whether the gut microbiome – the complex community of bacteria residing in the digestive tract – influences the development of fatty liver disease. Researchers hypothesized that a mother’s gut health could directly impact her child’s susceptibility to the condition.
To test this, female mice were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet, mimicking a Western-style eating pattern, throughout pregnancy and lactation. A subset of these mice also received indole, a compound naturally produced by beneficial gut bacteria when they break down tryptophan, an amino acid found in foods like turkey and nuts. After weaning, the offspring were initially placed on a standard diet before being switched to a Western-style diet to encourage the development of fatty liver disease.
Indole Offers Significant Protection
The results were striking. Offspring born to mothers who received indole exhibited multiple health benefits. They developed healthier livers, gained less weight, maintained lower blood sugar levels, and formed smaller fat cells, even after being exposed to the unhealthy diet later in life. Researchers also observed activation of the acyl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a protective gut pathway.
Further analysis revealed a favorable shift in liver fat composition. The study found no increase in harmful long-chain ceramides, while levels of beneficial very long-chain ceramides increased. This suggests indole may alter the way the liver processes and stores fats.
The Power of Microbial Transfer
To further confirm the microbiome’s role, the researchers performed a fecal microbiota transplant. Gut bacteria from the offspring protected by indole were transferred to other mice that had not received the compound. Remarkably, these recipient mice also experienced less liver damage, strongly suggesting that the microbiome itself played a central protective role. This finding highlights the potential for targeted microbiome interventions.
Implications for Preventing Childhood MASLD
While this research was conducted in mice, the findings offer promising avenues for preventing MASLD in children. Currently, weight loss remains the only effective treatment for pediatric MASLD once the disease is established, and You’ll see no approved medications. “Anything we can do to improve the mother’s microbiome may help prevent the development of MASLD in the offspring,” Dr. Jonscher explained. “That would be far better than trying to reverse the disease once it has already progressed.”
The study underscores the importance of maternal diet and gut health during pregnancy and breastfeeding. While more research is needed to determine whether similar effects can be achieved in humans, the findings suggest that interventions aimed at optimizing the maternal microbiome could be a valuable strategy for reducing the growing burden of MASLD.
Recent research also highlights the broader impact of maternal health on infant well-being. A study from USC, for example, found that “secondhand sugars” can pass through breast milk, potentially influencing an infant’s metabolic health. Similarly, research indicates that urbanization can alter the infant gut microbiota and impact health outcomes. These findings collectively emphasize the critical window of opportunity during early life for shaping long-term health trajectories.
a review of existing research suggests that both gut bacteria and genetics jointly shape obesity risk, adding another layer of complexity to the interplay between maternal health, the microbiome, and offspring health. These interconnected factors highlight the need for a holistic approach to preventing metabolic diseases like MASLD.
