High-fat diet harms rat bone health

Adult bone health may be affected by poor maternal nutrition and a high-fat diet in infancy, according to an animal study.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, is the first to uncover a compounding effect of poor maternal nutrition and a high-fat diet in rat offspring on later bone health, according to the Liggins Institute and the University of Auckland researchers.

Bones of the rats studied were weaker than those fed a healthy diet. Further investigation is needed to see if the findings extend to humans.