A Canadian study reveals that a lack of protein during pregnancy could set children up for future health problems. Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario completed a two-year study to determine how a lack of protein in the diet can affect fetal development.

The study looked at women’s intake of protein casein (mainly found in milk) during their pregnancy and how it affected the development of pancreases in the fetuses. Researchers found that a lack of protein casein in the diet lead to an underdeveloped pancreas in many cases, which increased the risk for obesity and Type 2 diabetes because of a lessened ability to control blood sugar levels. The aim of the study is to find a way to decrease the risk of potential health problems in children.

In this day and age when there is so much information about the importance of eating a balanced diet during pregnancy women should not have to be told to consume protein during pregnancy. However, pregnant women still receive the message that they need to increase their caloric intake but are not well informed on what they should be eating. Doctors need to use the information that is available to them to help women make the best possible choices for their children’s futures.