Level of fructose and glucose during pregnancy alter maternal and fetal trace element status in rats at term

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that either the source or the level of maternal dietary carbohydrate could alter fetal tissue concentrations of trace elements, pregnant dams were fed graded levels (0, 4, 12, or 60%) of glucose or fructose throughout pregnancy. Selected maternal and fetal tissues were collected at term and analyzed for zinc, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium concentrations. Results confirmed that the placenta accumulated significantly less copper if fructose rather than glucose was the principal carbohydrate in the maternal diet. In contrast, changes in the level, but not the source, of maternal dietary carbohydrate resulted in lower copper but higher zinc and iron concentrations in the maternal livers. In the fetus, higher copper, iron and magnesium concentrations in livers and higher concentrations of zinc in the lung were found when mothers had consumed low (0 or 4%) carbohydrate diets. These results indicate that changes in macronutrient content of the maternal diet alone can precipitate alterations in maternal, placental and fetal trace element status.