Effect of flavonoids on fetal programming : implications for cancer susceptibility

Chronic diseases that occur at the adult age, such as cancer, threaten man’s health. The in utero period, the stage in the uterus, seems to play a role in the development of cancer and is among others determined by the mother’s nutrition. Mice that during pregnancy were exposed to flavonoids, nutrients with an antioxidant effect that are believed to protect against the development of cancer, turned out to be better protected against the development of cancer at an adult age. The reason was among others that their antioxidant defence system was increased.