Long-term impact of maternal dietary intervention on metabolic homeostasis in male offspring in mice

J Nutr Biochem. 2022 Jun:104:108971. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108971. Epub 2022 Feb 20.

Abstract

The long-term effect of changes in maternal dietary composition during pregnancy on the offspring's metabolic homeostasis is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the long-term effects of maternal balanced low-fat interventions on metabolic homeostasis of the offspring using a mouse model of gestational obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Male newborns in the balanced low-fat intervention group had significantly lower serum insulin and higher serum adiponectin levels than those in the HFD group. Changes in maternal dietary composition improved glucose tolerance in pups at 3 and 12 weeks of age. We also performed transcriptomic analysis of the liver in neonatal and 3-week-old pups. Genes in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway were significantly down-regulated in neonates in the balanced low-fat intervention group compared with the HFD group. A maternal balanced low-fat diet fully compensated for the detrimental effects of a maternal HFD on glucose metabolism, insulin tolerance, circulating insulin, dyslipidemia, and body weight gain in male offspring by changing the gene expression profile. These data suggest that maternal balanced low-fat intervention is critical for improving the metabolic health of future generations.

Keywords: Maternal dietary intervention; glucose metabolism; low-fat diet; offspring; transcriptomic analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Body Weight
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / genetics

Substances

  • Insulin