Maternal Obesity Programs Offspring Development and Resveratrol Potentially Reprograms the Effects of Maternal Obesity

Abstract

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is a now a public health burden that may be the culprit underlying the ever-increasing rates of adult obesity worldwide. Understanding the association between maternal obesity and adult offspring’s obesity would inform policy and practice regarding offspring health through available resources and interventions. This review first summarizes the programming effects of maternal obesity and discusses the possible underlying mechanisms. We then summarize the current evidence suggesting that maternal consumption of resveratrol is helpful in maternal obesity and alleviates its consequences. In conclusion, maternal obesity can program offspring development in an adverse way. Maternal resveratrol could be considered as a potential regimen in reprogramming adverse outcomes in the context of maternal obesity.

Effects of Maternal Resveratrol Intake on the Metabolic Health of the Offspring

“…A maternal high-fructose diet is also reported to initiate neuro-inflammation in the hippocampus of adult female offspring [ 44 ]. A recent review analyzes the negative programming effects of maternal obesity, both in animal models and humans, emphasizing the five major mechanisms implicated to date: the gut–brain axis, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, brain-derived neurotrophic factors and epigenomic effects [ 26 ].…”

“…Given the protective effects of postnatal resveratrol intake and its capacity to cross the placenta, along with its lack of teratogenicity as reported in most studies, the effects of maternal resveratrol supplementation during gestation and/or lactation on the dams and their offspring’s health has become a point of interest [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 59 ]. Indeed, the unbalanced redox state induced by factors that result in poor metabolic outcome in the offspring indicates a potential mechanism by which perinatal resveratrol could be beneficial due to its antioxidant capacity.…”

“…Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound produced in a variety of plant species (i.e., grapes, peanuts, cocoa, berries) and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory [ 16 ], antioxidant [ 17 ], anti-obesogenic [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], anti-atherosclerotic [ 21 ] and antidiabetic effects [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] ( Figure 2 ). Furthermore, this polyphenol is hypothesized to be potentially useful in protecting against factors during development that program susceptibility to metabolic syndrome [ 23 , 25 , 26 ] ( Figure 2 ). However, different experimental models, as well as a wide range of doses, routes of administration and therapeutic periods, have led to inconclusive results regarding the potential metabolic benefits of maternal resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy and lactation [ 27 ].…”

Behavioral Feeding Circuit: Dietary Fat-Induced Effects of Inflammatory Mediators in the Hypothalamus

“…Exposure to inflammatory mediators or challenges to the immune system during pregnancy results in increased body weight, increased risk of the development of obesity, and increased ingestive behavior in offspring (138,139). In contrast, treatment during pregnancy with a natural antiinflammatory compound, resveratrol, prevented brain changes and physiological changes associated with prenatal high-fat diet exposure (140,141). The consequences of this heightened immune response in fetal brain may be rewiring of neuronal architecture that leads to postnatal behavioral and physiological consequences in offspring.…”

Maternal and Early-Life Nutrition and Health

“…A total of 13 papers are published in this Special Issue entitled "Maternal and Early-Life Nutrition and Health", and the topics include maternal nutrition behaviors [1][2][3][4] and maternal nutrition imbalances, such as maternal high-fat diets [5], maternal high-fructose diets [6], maternal obesity [7], and maternal iron deficiency [8]. Three articles investigated different factors in breastfeeding [9][10][11].…”