Early eating patterns shape lifelong dietary habits and brain health, according to UCC study

Eating unhealthy foods early in life can have lasting effects on the brain and eating behaviour, but gut bacteria may help restore healthier habits, according to a new study from University College Cork (UCC).

Researchers at APC Microbiome, a leading institute at UCC, found that consuming a high-fat, high-sugar diet during early life can cause enduring changes in how the brain controls eating. These effects can persist even after the unhealthy diet stops and body weight returns to normal.

Published in Nature Communications, the research also shows that interventions targeting gut microbiota may help counteract these effects. These include a beneficial bacterial strain (Bifidobacterium longum APC1472) and prebiotic fibres such as fructo-oligosaccharides and galacto-oligosaccharides, which are naturally found in foods like onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, and bananas. They are also commonly added to fortified foods and supplements.

The UCC-led research involved collaboration with the University of Seville, Spain; the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; and Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy. It was funded by Research Ireland, a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, and a research award from the Biostime Institute for Nutrition and Care.

Using a preclinical mouse model, the researchers observed that early-life exposure to a high-fat, high-sugar diet resulted in lasting changes in feeding behaviour into adulthood. These behavioural shifts were linked to disruptions in the hypothalamus, a key brain region responsible for regulating appetite and energy balance.

“Our findings show that what we eat early in life really matters,” said Dr Cristina Cuesta-Martí, first author of the study. “Early dietary exposure may leave hidden, long-term effects on feeding behaviour that are not immediately visible through weight alone.”

Importantly, modifying the gut microbiota helped reduce these long-term impacts. The probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum APC1472 significantly improved feeding behaviour while only slightly altering the overall microbiome, suggesting a targeted effect. In contrast, the combination of prebiotics (FOS+GOS) led to broader changes in gut bacteria.

Dr Harriet Schellekens, the study’s lead investigator, added: “Crucially, our findings show that targeting the gut microbiota can mitigate the long-term effects of an unhealthy early-life diet on later feeding behaviour. Supporting the gut microbiota from birth helps maintain healthier food-related behaviours into later life.”

Prof John F Cryan, Vice President for Research and Innovation at UCC, and a collaborator on the project, added: “Studies like this exemplify how fundamental research can lead to potential innovative solutions for major societal challenges. By revealing how early-life diet shapes brain pathways involved in the regulation of feeding, this work opens new opportunities for microbiota-based interventions.”

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