A new study shows that even a slightly undernourished mother can cause her baby's heart to exhibit signs of early aging — which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Mothers with restricted food intake can result in abnormal functioning of the fetus' developing organs, including the heart, say researchers at the University of Wyoming. This makes it more likely that their newborns will suffer chronic illnesses later in life. The results of the study were published in The Journal of Physiology.

Researchers tested their theory on baboons, as baboon hearts closely mimic the development of human hearts. MRI scans were used to get a clear picture of how their hearts developed after the baboon mothers' food intake was cut 30 percent from what they were normally fed.

The MRI results were stark. They clearly showed hearts that exhibited early signs of aging in baboons as early as 5 years old. Their hearts were equivalent to 20-year-old hearts. Furthermore, the newborns ate less and showed signs of reduced heart function.

Dr. Peter Nathanielsz, one of the research directors, and director of the Wyomoing Pregnancy and Life Course Health Center at the University of Wyoming, said the results prove just how important the mother's health is to her baby's development: “Women’s health during pregnancy is of fundamental importance to the lifetime health of their babies. Society must pay attention to improving women’s nutrition before and during pregnancy to prevent these adverse outcomes in babies.”

Doctors recommend proper nutrition that includes regular intake of calcium, chromium, copper, folic acid, iron, and magnesium, as well as an array of vitamins. Many doctors say supplements are key to getting healthy amounts — especially if the expectant mother does not eat a diet containing crucial vitamins and minerals. Prenatal vitamins are often prescribed to make up deficiencies. Pregnant women are urged to get regular check ups and ask about and deficiencies.