Early Exposure to Phytosterols Protects Offspring from Hypercholesterolemia Induced by Maternal Cholesterol Feeding in Syrian Golden Hamsters

Abstract

Pronounced maternal hyperlipidemia during pregnancy is a health concern as it produces offspring who are predisposed to dyslipidemia. As the use of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy is contraindicated, lipid-lowering compounds such as phytosterols (PS), plant-based cholesterol-lowering agents, should be examined as a potential means to reduce gestational dyslipidemia. We evaluated in utero and postnatal phytosterol exposure as a novel strategy to protect against hyperlipidemia in offspring. Female Syrian golden hamsters were randomly assigned to three diets throughout pre-pregnancy (2 weeks), gestation, and lactation (n=6/group): (i) Chow only, (ii) chow with 0.5% cholesterol (CH), and (iii) chow with 0.5% cholesterol and 2% PS (CH/PS).Pups from CH-fed dams demonstrated increased (p<0.05) total-C (+51%), LDL-C (+87%), HDL-C (+10%), and LDL particle number (+104%) compared with pups from chow-fed dams. Pups from PS-supplemented dams were protected from maternal CH feeding with reductions (p<0.05) in total-C (-30%) and LDL-C (-33%) concentrations. Maternal PS-supplementation did not alter (p>0.05) LDL particle number compared with pups from CH-fed dams. Hepatic cholesterol was increased in pups from CH-fed dams (57.9 ± 3.9 vs. 8.1 ± 0.7 mmol/g) but normalized in pups from PS-supplemented dams (7.8 ± 0.3 mmol/g). Results suggest that early exposure to PS in utero and throughout lactation can protect offspring from elevated cholesterol that is induced by maternal hypercholesterolemia. National Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.