Multifaceted study on the effect of maternal chewing on obesity development due to intrauterine programming

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11679
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Kumiko 名古屋女子大学, 健康科学部, 講師 (70737189)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 近藤 貴子 名古屋女子大学, 健康科学部, 講師 (60737203) ; 飯沼 光生 朝日大学, 歯学部, 教授 (70184364)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 咀嚼運動 / ストレス / 肥満 / 子宮内プログラミング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The intrauterine environment during pregnancy not only affects fetal development but also forms predisposing factors for health disorders in offspring after birth. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal stress and chewing on the factors related to the obesity development in weaning offspring from various perspectives. Maternal stress and chewing were found to have various effects on weaning offspring, including gut microbiota, the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into adipocytes, and the expression of hormone receptors involved in feeding behaviors. These findings suggested that maternal chewing during stress could attenuate obesity risk in their offspring.

Free Research Field

解剖生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は母体へのストレスと咀嚼運動が離乳期の仔へどのような影響を及ぼすのかについて、腸内細菌叢や間葉系幹細胞、摂食関連ホルモンなど多方面からアプローチし、肥満発症との関連を明らかにしたことに学術的意義がある。また、「噛む」ことは、食べることを通して日常的に行われている非常に簡単な活動であるが、妊娠期に母親が積極的に噛むこと行うことで、子の将来の肥満発症を抑制する効果を示す可能性があること示し、「噛む」ことの有効性を提言することができる。