Paternal nutrition and infant birth weight study

Research conducted in Brazil, specifically involving families in the public health network of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, has identified a link between paternal consumption of ultra-processed foods and infant birth outcomes.

Initial findings published in the journal Nutrition Research indicated that a father’s diet—including items such as sausages, bacon, sugary drinks, and biscuits—was associated with infant birth weight and increased skinfold thickness in newborns. This correlation remained after adjusting for factors such as the father’s age, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and maternal weight gain.

Subsequent details from the University of São Paulo study suggest that high consumption of ultra-processed foods before conception may trigger inflammation affecting sperm quality and gene expression. Specifically, researchers noted that the IGF-II gene, which is inherited exclusively from the father, may be influenced by paternal eating habits, potentially impacting fetal growth and increasing risks for cardiometabolic diseases later in life.