How fathers' health affects their children's risk of diabetes and obesity
Paternal Contributions to Metabolic Disease in Offspring: Environment, Epigenetics, and Sperm
This study is looking at how a father's health, especially if he's dealing with obesity or diabetes, can affect his children's health, and it aims to find out if improving a father's health before having kids can help prevent these issues in the next generation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10850665 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how the health of fathers, particularly regarding obesity and diabetes, can influence the metabolic health of their children. It focuses on the non-genetic effects of paternal health on offspring, exploring how improving fathers' metabolic conditions before conception can potentially break the cycle of obesity and diabetes in families. The study employs interventions such as SGLT2 inhibitors and caloric restriction to assess their impact on sperm health and subsequent offspring outcomes. By analyzing changes in DNA methylation and gene expression, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind these paternal influences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are fathers who are overweight or have diabetes and are planning to conceive.
Not a fit: Patients who are not planning to have children or those without metabolic health issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing metabolic diseases in children by targeting fathers' health before conception.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results regarding the impact of paternal health on offspring, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Joslin Diabetes Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patti, Mary E — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Patti, Mary E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.