Heart disease may begin in the WOMB: The children of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or a smoking habit are more at risk of the condition in later life

Heart disease may begin in the womb, research suggests.

A study by Cambridge University found that adults who suffered chronic hypoxia – low oxygen – in the womb are more likely to show red flags for the condition, like high blood pressure or stiff arteries, according to Daily Mail.

Chronic hypoxia is the most common side effect of pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or just the expectant mother smoking.

The study was led by Professor Dino Giussani, from the department of physiology, development and neuroscience.

It is widely accepted that our genes interact with our lifestyle habits – such as obesity and smoking – to determine our heart disease risk.

But the new study shows this risk may be set out before we are even born.

To determine if this risk can be offset, the researchers gave pregnant sheep vitamin C while placing them in reduced-oxygen chambers for their last trimesters.

Vitamin C helps to thin the blood, reducing blood pressure.

‘Sheep and humans share similar development milestones in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology,’ the authors wrote. 

At nine months old, the sheep’s offsprings’ heart functions were compared against lambs delivered from normal pregnancies.

Results suggested low oxygen restricted the lambs’ growth and caused ‘internal stress’.

By adulthood, the sheep had narrower blood vessels, which caused hypertension.

The researchers found vitamin C somewhat helps to boost oxygen supply across the placenta but is relatively ineffective.

Nonetheless, the scientists believe their study provides proof-of-concept that antioxidants can help lower hypertension.

The method works by ‘bringing preventative medicine back into the womb’, first author Dr Kirsty Brain, from the department of physiology, development and neuroscience, said.

The researchers add more emphasis should be placed on preventing, rather than treating, heart disease.

‘Our discoveries emphasise that when considering strategies to reduce the overall burden of heart disease, much greater attention to prevention rather than treatment is required,’ Professor Giussani said.

‘Treatment should start as early as possible during the developmental trajectory, rather than waiting until adulthood when the disease process has become irreversible.’

N.H.Kh