Dad health matters too : Texas A & M research reveals paternal choices shape a child lifelong health

kbtx.com · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - A father’s health before conception could determine his child’s lifelong health outcomes, according to research from Texas A&M University that challenges the singular focus on maternal health.The study findings show that paternal drinking can cause the same birth defects long blamed solely on mothers, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Similarly, excessive antioxidants from supplements can harm fertility and fetal outcomes.Overlooked Health FactorThe research shows that sperm carry signals shaped by a father’s lifestyle that affect a child’s health for decades. Alcohol triggers oxidative stress in the father’s body, leaving a mark on sperm that results in a higher risk of chronic disease in children.Dr. Michael Golding is a professor of physiology at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and has been conducting this research for years. He said the focus on maternal health alone has overlooked a critical component.Research from Texas A&M shows that a father's health before conception significantly affects his child's lifelong health outcomes.“We need to move past this idea that the mom’s health is the end all and be all of optimizing pregnancy and optimizing child health,” Golding said.He noted that male health and male reproductive physiology are variables that can contribute to the long-term success of our kids“There’s a whole host of signals that are coming through in sperm that are really foundational for determining the health of the offspring and, you know, not only the success and health of the pregnancy, but the long-term health outcomes and the susceptibilities to chronic disease,” Golding said.Three Areas to AddressGolding identified three key areas for men planning to conceive: limit alcohol use, avoid excessive supplements and aim for balance. He added that some oxidative stress, like from exercise, is actually healthy. The goal is moderation, not elimination.Alcohol triggers oxidative stress in the father's body, leaving a mark on sperm that results in a higher risk of chronic disease in children.(kbtx)Too much of anything is not good,” Golding said. “So if you have too much alcohol, you’re going to go towards oxidative stress. You really have to be kind of in the middle for optimum fertility and to optimize the chances for a healthy pregnancy and healthy offspring.”Standards for Men and WomenCurrently, medical guidance for women planning pregnancy is clear and comprehensive: don’t drink, don’t smoke, take prenatal vitamins. Fathers, by contrast, have received little to no health guidance for preconception planning.When it comes to a healthy baby, both parents’ choices matter, long before pregnancy begins. He emphasized the findings are not meant to assign blame but rather to give fathers the same tools mothers have always had.Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.