Fathers' diet before conception could significantly affect fetal growth and placenta development

MedicalXpress | июн 02, 2026

What fathers eat before conception could significantly influence fetal growth and placenta development, new research in mice suggests. A team of scientists from the University of Sheffield, found that although dietary differences had no major effect on fertility, both high-fat "Western-style" diets and low-protein diets in males altered key biological processes in the placenta after fertilization. The findings, published in eLife, add to growing evidence that paternal health and nutrition before conception may play an important role in early development.