Dr. Min Du, PhD

When physically fit women exercise during pregnancy they could be setting their children up for better fitness too. That's according to a study published today in Science Advances led by Min Du, professor of animal sciences at Washington State University, and his PhD student Jun Seok Son. They found exercise during pregnancy stimulates the production of brown adipose tissue, commonly known as brown fat, in a developing fetus. Brown fat's primary role in the body is to burn off heat. It is often called good fat. White adipose tissue or white fat, on the other hand, is responsible for obesity and harder to burn off. It is commonly known as bad fat.

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SHR # 2519 :: Exercise During Pregnancy Reduces Obesity Among Offspring

Show Transcript SHR # 2519 :: Exercise During Pregnancy Reduces Obesity Among Offspring

Shos Notes:

[3:25] The outcome of exercise during pregnancy;  what preceded this study to inspire the research?

• In primitive cultures, women were still active in duties during their pregnancy.

[7:27] Study design.

• Mouse model.
• This study focused on brown fat in lean mice.

[8:45] Do higher brown fat levels in a fetus pre-dispose the maturing subject to develop more brown fat?

• The offspring of the mice that exercised during pregnancy had an easier time inducing brown fat.
• The effects are inter-generational.

[12:40] If the stimulus on brown fat is removed, the brown fat will tend to turn to white fat.

[14:50] The study involved 1 group of inactive, lean mice and 1 group of active, lean mice.

• A treadmill was used.
• The diet was the same for both groups.
• The exercise group’s offspring had improved brown fat development and had higher muscle mass, specifically type 1 fibers, at 21 days of age.
• These mice were also more resistant to exercise fatigue.

[22:20] Were there any surprises in the research?

[32:36] There were no differences in sex.

[33:20] Apilen- a newly discovered exokine.

[35:29] What about the heart?

• No significant difference in the weight of the heart was measured.

[50:20] Stress in the maternal mouse inhibited brown fat in the fetus.

[55:15] The situation in Georgia.

• It has reopened- there are a drop in Corona virus reports.