Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Metabolism and Bioavailability of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.

Daniela Álvarez,Macarena Ortiz,Yasna Muñoz,Raphaël Chouinard-Watkins,Rodrigo Valenzuela,Manuel Maliqueo

doi:10.3390/nu13010019

Daniela Álvarez, Macarena Ortiz + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010019

Copy DOI

Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Dec 23, 2020
Citations: 38	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Chile, University of Toronto

Abstract

Prenatal and postnatal development are closely related to healthy maternal conditions that allow for the provision of all nutritional requirements to the offspring. In this regard, an appropriate supply of fatty acids (FA), mainly n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), is crucial to ensure a normal development, because they are an integral part of cell membranes and participate in the synthesis of bioactive molecules that regulate multiple signaling pathways. On the other hand, maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain affect FA supply to the fetus and neonate, altering placental nutrient transfer, as well as the production and composition of breast milk during lactation. In this regard, maternal obesity modifies FA profile, resulting in low n-3 and elevated n-6 PUFA levels in maternal and fetal circulation during pregnancy, as well as in breast milk during lactation. These modifications are associated with a pro-inflammatory state and oxidative stress with short and long-term consequences in different organs of the fetus and neonate, including in the liver, brain, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Altogether, these changes confer to the offspring a higher risk of developing obesity and its complications, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders, asthma, and cancer. Considering the consequences of an abnormal FA supply to offspring induced by maternal obesity, we aimed to review the effects of obesity on the metabolism and bioavailability of FA during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with an emphasis on LCPUFA homeostasis.

Highlights

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.license (https://creativecommons.org/Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are frequently associated with alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, abnormal levels of pregnancy hormones, and a pro-inflammatory state
This review included both in vivo and in vitro studies aimed at evaluating the effect of obesity on the metabolism and bioavailability of PUFA during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Mice born to high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese dams had hyperphagia, physical inactivity, and altered adipocyte metabolism, leading to high adiposity and obesity. These results suggest that the metabolic changes associated with maternal obesity are programmed during prenatal life and maintained throughout the lifespan [38]

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.license (https://creativecommons.org/Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are frequently associated with alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, abnormal levels of pregnancy hormones, and a pro-inflammatory state. Adiposity excess alters the placental nutrient transfer and modifies the composition of breast milk, affecting the development and genetic programing of multiple fetal organs (liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and brain, among others) (Figure 1). These changes confer to the offspring a higher risk of obesity and related complications, as well as of neuropsychiatric disorders, asthma, and cancer [3,4,5,6,7].

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion