We know that food cravings during pregnancy are usually increased tenfold, but how are they triggered? New research in mice has identified the part of the brain that seems to control this habit change. In the future, this discovery could help make pregnancies healthier.
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In tests on pregnant mice, researchers noticed changes in the brain’s reward circuitry, as well as in areas responsible for taste, sensory and motor systems. In the mesolimbic pathway, responsible for releasing dopamine and rewarding the brain for its actions, the team identified higher levels of dopamine and increased activity of the dopamine D2R receptor in a region called the ‘nucleus’. accumulate”.
“This finding suggests that the pregnancy induces a complete reorganization of mesolimbic neuronal circuits via D2R neurons. These neuronal cells, and their alteration, would be responsible for food cravings, since food anxiety, typical of pregnancy, disappeared after blocking their activity. explained neurobiologist Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli of the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute in Spain.
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Although this study focused specifically on mice, the mouse brain and the human brain have enough in common for scientists to wonder if the same type of reaction does not occur when human mothers crave ice cream, chocolate or any other food. Scientists believe that food cravings promote embryonic growth in various ways, but these can also lead to potential problems. Indeed, this consumption of tasty and high-calorie foods can have disadvantages for the health of babies and mothers.
The researchers then studied the offspring of mice that had been allowed to give in to their cravings for sweet foods and noticed differences in the metabolism and neural circuitry of this new generation. “These results are very surprising. Many previous studies in this area focus on analyzing how lifelong habits of the mother, such as obesity, malnutrition or chronic stress affect the health of the baby. However, this one indicates that short but recurrent behaviors, such as food cravings, are sufficient to increase the psychological and metabolic vulnerability of babies. said neurobiologist Marc Claret of the University of Barcelona in Spain.
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Repeated food cravings cause health problems
In follow-up tests on the mice’s offspring, the team identified issues with weight gain, anxiety, and eating disorders, among others. It remains to be seen how this would translate to humans, but either way, the signs really aren’t positive. The scientists behind this study hope that her work can contribute to the development of effective nutritional recommendations for expectant mothers to ensure that, even if they do indulge in food cravings from time to time, the overall diet remains healthy and good for the mother and the baby.
In the case of a phenomenon such as food cravings during pregnancy, it is important to conduct as much research as possible into the underlying causes, say the researchers. “There are many myths and popular beliefs about these food cravings, but the neural mechanisms that cause them are not well enough known” estimated Marc Claret.
Interesting, isn’t it?