Forget That Beer if You Want a Baby

The older a new mom is, the more at risk her baby may be for complications or even birth defects — we’ve long known that for some time. Little, however, has been said or known about the father’s age, until now.

Advanced paternal age has been associated with the risk of some genetic diseases.

A growing body of research shows associations between birth defects and a father’s age, alcohol use, and environmental factors.

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center published the results of a new study last week in the American Journal of Stem Cells. The most important finding? Both parents contribute to the health status of their offspring — and yes, it makes sense, but with a twist.

The study’s senior investigator, Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D., an associate professor in biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology, said science is only beginning to demonstrate the link. “The effects that maternal exposures, particularly during pregnancy, have on children’s health have been definitely better studied and understood than the paternal influence,” Kitlinska said.

The nutritional, hormonal, and psychological environment provided by the mother has long been shown to permanently alter organ structure, cellular response, and gene expression in offspring.

“Our study shows the same thing to be true with fathers — his lifestyle, and how old he is, can be reflected in molecules that control gene function,” Kitlinska said. “In this way, a father can affect not only his immediate offspring but future generations as well.”

Advanced paternal age has been associated with the risks of some genetic diseases, such as neurofibromatosis — a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue. Miscarriage, autism, birth defects, and schizophrenia have also been concerns. But little research has been done until now to better define the impact of a father’s age on his offspring. Environmental factors have also been looked at in men in terms of their ability to conceive, but there is little data on any risks environmental factors may pose to the health of a child.

Worth highlighting, Kitlinska said: A newborn can be diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder even if the mother has never consumed alcohol.

“Up to 75 percent of children with FASD have biological fathers who are alcoholics, suggesting that preconceptual paternal alcohol consumption negatively impacts their offspring.”

[lz_ndn video=30439940]

The GUMC report is a review of evidence, human and animal, published to date on the link between fathers and heritable epigenetic programming.

Among the findings:

1.) A father’s advanced age is correlated with elevated rates of schizophrenia, autism, and birth defects in his children.

2.) A limited diet during a father’s pre-adolescence has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular death in his children and grandchildren.

3.) Paternal obesity is linked to enlarged fat cells, changes in metabolic regulation, diabetes, obesity, and development of brain cancer.

4.) Psychosocial stress on the father is linked to defective behavioral traits in his offspring.

5.) Paternal alcohol use leads to decreased newborn birth weight, marked reduction in overall brain size, and impaired cognitive function.

More research needs to be done and researchers caution the results shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. However, Kitlinska’s advice to potential new dads as they age is this: Cut back on smoking, drinking, and obesity.

“The most important message is that the paternal lifestyle impacts the health of future generations. Many lifestyle factors can be changed or avoided — their adverse effects on offspring are preventable.”