Early exposure of dams to a westernized diet has long-term consequences on food intake and physiometabolic homeostasis of the rat offspring

Abstract

This study evaluated the long-term effects of a westernized diet during pregnancy and lactation. Female Wistar rats (n = 12) were divided into two groups according to their food intake, namely, control (C) or westernized (W) diet, throughout pregnancy/lactation. On the 21st day, the male pups were weaned on a standard diet as follows: Control diet (CC) (n = 8) and westernized diet in perinatal life followed by control diet post weaning (WC) (n = 8). The levels of fasting (12 h) serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol and fraction in the pups were determined. During weaning, the WC group showed 14% greater body weight (p < 0.001). In the adulthood, the offspring from dams fed on westernized diet showed hyperphagia, hyperinsulinism, hypertriglyceridemia, higher fat visceral weight, higher very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level, decreased high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level, and altered glucose tolerance test. In conclusion, maternal western-style diet in early life altered long-term food intake, visceral fat pad, insulin, glucose and lipid serum, and increased risk of metabolic disorders.

Goat Milk Whey Improves Nutritional Status, Fecal Microbial Composition and Intestinal Morphology in Female Rats Fed a Westernized Diet and Their Offspring

“…The magnitude of body fat difference reached 55% more in WSALp2 compared to CSALp2. The effect of the westernized diet on the increased abdominal fat amounts in offspring corroborates the findings of previous studies [5,24,30]. The increase in visceral fat observed early in offspring fed the westernized diet remained at 45 days old, but there was a lack of significance in the group supplemented with GMW, revealing a positive effect of GMW supplementation in this group.…”

“…The body weight and food intake results observed for dams and offspring corroborate the results observed by a previous study using a similar westernized diet [24]. A lower weight gain was also observed in offspring fed cow milk whey derived protein compared to those fed casein protein [25].…”

Western diet in the perinatal period promotes dysautonomia in the offspring of adult rats

“…The W group presented decreased insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemia 52 and glucose intolerance. 52 Also we observed reduction of BRS coupled with autonomic misbalance and hypertension.…”

“…High body weight and visceral fat 52 observed in the W group may also be associated with the high amount of simple sugars in WD which may promote increased insulin release. Hyperinsulinemia stimulates enzymes involved in lipogenesis and Fig.…”

“…A recent study using the same diet and protocol observed high levels of glycemia, fasting insulin, glucose intolerance, and increased visceral fat in pups born from mothers that were fed a WD. 52 Furthermore, an increase in visceral fat may lead to inflammatory conditions 53 which can decrease insulin sensitivity, suggesting insulin signaling, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism impairment in these animals.…”