Category: Fun Facts

How Breast Milk Hormones Could Shape Your Little One’s Future (and Your Health Too!)

Breast milk is an excellent source of nutrition for babies, and it contains many hormones that could affect the baby’s growth and the mother’s health.

A recent study found that the concentrations of some of these hormones in breast milk are related to maternal health and baby growth. Women with gestational diabetes had lower concentrations of adiponectin and ghrelin, and higher concentrations of insulin in their breast milk. A higher body mass index (BMI) of the mother was also associated with higher concentrations of some hormones and lower concentrations of ghrelin in breast milk.

Interestingly, among the tested breast milk hormones, adiponectin was inversely associated with infant growth in both the GDM and healthy groups, suggesting it may play a role in down-regulating early infant growth. These findings highlight the important link between maternal health, breast milk hormones, and infant growth.

Want to read more? Follow this link: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518002933

Fat Chance: The Surprising Link Between Obesity and Eye Health

Good news for anyone concerned about their eye health! Researchers have been tirelessly working to discover if there is a strong connection between obesity and eye health. This is because weight control is one of the most effective modifiable factors for human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. And if we could identify the specific mechanisms that link body weight to eye conditions, it could provide us with valuable insights into related conditions and possible therapeutic targets.

So far, obesity has been linked to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. And now, a new study has added glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness globally, to the list. Researchers found a significant connection between body weight and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma. They also discovered that both obesity and being underweight were associated with a higher risk of POAG, according to their thorough analysis of previous studies.

Furthermore, the researchers looked at the genetic links between obesity and POAG and identified several genes associated with both POAG and body mass index. This has provided some particularly promising targets for further investigation.

While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between obesity and POAG, this study provides important insights into the connection between our overall health and our eyesight. So, whether you’re trying to lose weight or simply maintain a healthy lifestyle, taking care of your body could also be a key factor in protecting your vision. Let’s make healthy choices for our bodies and our eyes!

Want to read more? Follow this link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043925