Low Salt Diet in Pregnant Mothers Is Associated with Enhanced Salt Appetite in Their Offspring of Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated an influence of salt intake during gestation or lactation in salt preference of weaning Dahl salt sensitive (Dahl S) strain. Material and Methods: Nine-week-old female Dahl S rats, after mated with the male, were divided into 1) high-salt group fed a 4% NaCl diet (high-salt mother) or 2) low-salt group fed a 0.3% NaCl diet (low-salt mother) during gestation or lactation periods. Using 0.4%, 0.6% and 0.8% (w/v) saline solutions, we assessed salt preference in their offspring after weaning. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined by tail cuff method. Results: Both the male and female offspring from low-salt mothers during gestation consumed equal amounts of any saline solution. However, the amount of each saline solution was higher in the offspring of low-salt mothers than those of high-salt mothers. This resulted in a significant increase of salt intake in both the male and female offspring of low-salt mothers compared with those of high-salt mothers. In contrast, both the male and female offspring from low-mothers during lactation rather preferred the lower concentration of saline solution, and this resulted in less salt intake in the offspring of low-salt mothers than those of high-salt mothers. Conclusions: We demonstrated that low salt diet in pregnant mothers increased salt intake of their offspring. The offspring of mothers fed a low salt diet during lactation had less salt than those of high-salt mothers. The influence of salt intake of mothers in their offspring varies along with the growth stage of their babies.

Impact of maternal intermittent fasting during pregnancy on cardiovascular, metabolic and renal function in adult rat offspring

“…When given a choice between water and low concentration solutions of saline to drink, rats express a preference for saline [ 50 ]. This salt preference is increased in several models of developmental programming, including the LP rat [ 18 ], Dahl salt-sensitive rats exposed to a low sodium diet in utero [ 51 ] and rats whose mothers underwent a partial aortic ligation [ 52 ]. Similarly maternal dehydration, which can be induced in the rat by subcutaneous injection of polyethylene glycol in order to mimic human vomiting during pregnancy, also increased salt preference in the offspring [ 53 ].…”

Influence of gestational salt restriction in fetal growth and in development of diseases in adulthood

“…Low-salt diet (0.3 % NaCl, w/w) in pregnancy caused craving for salt in pups compared with high-salt (4 % NaCl, w/w) mothers whereas after weaning, salt appetite increases in babies fed a high-salt (4 % NaCl, w/w) diet compared with those fed a low-salt (0.3 % NaCl, w/w) diet (Fig. 2 ) [ 21 – 23 ]. It is also known that in premature babies, physical and mental abilities are improved in children whose diets are supplemented with salt [ 24 ].…”

“…Cited from Hara A et al (2014) Food and Nutrition Sciences Vol.5 No.19, PP. 1904–1913 (ref# [ 23 ]). …”