Maternal consumption of high-prebiotic fibre or -protein diets during pregnancy and lactation differentially influences satiety hormones and expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in offspring in rats

Abstract

Risk of developing the metabolic syndrome may be influenced by nutritional environment early in life. We examined the effects of high-fibre (HF) and high-protein (HP) diets consumed during pregnancy and lactation on satiety hormones and expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in offspring. Wistar dams were fed a control (C), HF or HP diets during pregnancy and lactation. At parturition, litters were culled to ten pups. At 21 d, all pups were weaned onto C diet. At 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 d after birth, blood was analysed for satiety hormones and tissues for mRNA expression in offspring. No differences were observed in litter size or birth weight. At 21 d, offspring of HF dams had greater adjusted intestinal mass and lower liver weight than those of C but not of HP dams. Plasma glucose at 28 d and amylin at 7, 14 and 28 d were lower in HF v. C and HP offspring. Glucagon-like peptide-1 was higher in HP offspring than in HF offspring at 7 d but was higher in HF v. C offspring at 21 d. Offspring of HF dams had higher glucose transporter (GLUT2 and Na þ -dependent glucose/galactose transporter) mRNA expression at 21 d v. C and HP offspring. In brown adipose tissue, HF and HP up-regulated uncoupling protein-1 and PPAR-g coactivator. HP was associated with increased resistin and IL-6 mRNA expression. The present study demonstrates that maternal diet composition differentially regulates circulating satiety hormones and genes involved in glucose transport and energy metabolism in offspring. These early changes could have long-term consequences for obesity risk.

Impact of perinatal prebiotic consumption on gestating mice and their offspring: a preliminary report

“…The present results are consistent with earlier data on adult rats fed with fibre-enriched diets (18 -20) , and with the study in rat pups born from dams fed a high-fibre diet (21) . Such a trophic effect on the offspring's colon suggests that the intestinal microbiota was affected in pups.…”

Maternal dietary protein supplement confers long-term sex-specific beneficial consequences of obesity resistance and glucose tolerance to the offspring in Brandt's voles

“…In the present study, we found that maternal high-protein diet did not affect litter mass, litter size or sex ratio in the voles. No effects on reproductive output by maternal dietary protein content were also found in laboratory mice and rats (Derrickson and Lowas, 2007;Hallam and Reimer, 2013;Maurer and Reimer, 2011). However, results have not been unequivocal.…”

“…Laboratory studies suggest that low maternal protein intake during gestation and/or lactation can result in offspring with lower birth mass, reduced growth rate and higher blood pressure in adulthood (Derrickson and Lowas, 2007;Passos et al, 2000;Zambrano et al, 2006). In contrast, maternal high-protein diet can induce increased growth and improve glucose homeostasis (Maurer and Reimer, 2011;Thone-Reineke et al, 2006). However, other studies found that maternal low-protein diet increased abdominal fat deposition in mice (Han et al, 2012).…”

Epigenetic mechanisms elicited by nutrition in early life

“…However, a high protein intake in rats during pregnancy and lactation also results in male offspring with higher blood pressure and female offspring with higher body mass and increased fat pad mass; it is possible to speculate that these effects are also mediated by epigenetic mechanisms (36) . Maurer & Reimer (37) showed that a maternal highprotein diet, but not high-prebiotic fibre diet, during pregnancy and lactation could negatively influence the expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in the offspring rats. These early changes, perhaps based on epigenetic mechanisms, could have long-term consequences for the development of obesity and the metabolic syndrome (37) .…”

“…Maurer & Reimer (37) showed that a maternal highprotein diet, but not high-prebiotic fibre diet, during pregnancy and lactation could negatively influence the expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in the offspring rats. These early changes, perhaps based on epigenetic mechanisms, could have long-term consequences for the development of obesity and the metabolic syndrome (37) . Interestingly, a number of clinical studies have shown that the highest risk for development of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes occurs in adults who are born small for gestational age and become overweight in early childhood.…”