Abstract
The supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important for optimal fetal and postnatal development. We have previously shown that leptin levels in suckling rats are reduced by maternal PUFA deficiency. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of maternal dietary intake of (n-3) and (n-6) PUFA on the leptin content in rat milk and serum leptin levels in suckling pups. For the last 10 days of gestation and throughout lactation, the rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing 7% linseed oil (n-3 diet), sunflower oil (n-6 diet), or soybean oil (n-6/n-3 diet). Body weight, body length, inguinal fat pad weight, and adipocyte size of the pups receiving the n-3 diet were significantly lower during the whole suckling period compared with n-6/n-3 fed pups. Body and fat pad weights of the n-6 fed pups were in between the other two groups at week one, but not different from the n-6/n-3 group at week 3. Feeding dams the n-3 diet resulted in decreased serum leptin levels in the suckling pups compared with pups in the n-6/n-3 group. The mean serum leptin levels of the n-6 pups were between the other two groups but not different from either group. There were no differences in the milk leptin content between the groups. These results show that the balance between the n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the maternal diet rather than amount of n-6 or n-3 PUFA per se could be important for adipose tissue growth and for maintaining adequate serum leptin levels in the offspring.
Highlights
The supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important for optimal fetal and postnatal development
FA composition of total milk lipids There was no difference in the total amount of PUFA or unsaturation index (USI) in milk from rats fed the different diets (Table 2)
The levels of SFA were higher in the milk from dams fed the n-3 diet, while the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were higher in the milk of the dams fed the n-6/n-3 diet
Summary
The supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important for optimal fetal and postnatal development. We evaluated the effect of maternal dietary intake of (n-3) and (n-6) PUFA on the leptin content in rat milk and serum leptin levels in suckling pups. There were no differences in the milk leptin content between the groups These results show that the balance between the n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the maternal diet rather than amount of n-6 or n-3 PUFA per se could be important for adipose tissue growth and for maintaining adequate serum leptin levels in the offspring.—Korotkova, M., B. Leptin levels in early life predict weight gain later in infancy [17, 18] These studies suggest that circulating leptin levels during the perinatal period could be important for normal development and health. The serum leptin levels in rat pups during the suckling period and on the leptin content in rat milk
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