Maternal High-Protein Diet during Pregnancy Modifies Rat Offspring Body Weight and Insulin Signalling but Not Macronutrient Preference in Adulthood.

Gabrielle Carlin,Florence M Guillin,Corine Delteil,François Blachier,Anne-Marie Davila,Andrea Kodde,Nicolas Darcel,Catherine Chaumontet,Daniel Tomé,Anne Blais,Eline M Van Der Beek,Sophie Blat,Pierre Barbillon

doi:10.3390/nu11010096

Abstract

Diet of mothers during gestation may impact offspring phenotype. This study evaluated the consequences of a maternal High-Protein (HP) diet during gestation on food preferences and phenotypic characteristics in adult rat offspring. Dams were fed a HP or a Normal-Protein (NP) isocaloric diet during gestation only. Weaned female pups were divided into 3 diet groups: NP control or one of two dietary self-selection (DSS) conditions. In DSS1, offspring had a free choice between proteins (100%) or a mix of carbohydrates (88%) and lipids (12%). In DSS2, the choice was between proteins (100%), carbohydrate (100%) or lipids (100%). DSS2 groups consumed more of their energy from protein and lipids, with a decreased carbohydrate intake (p < 0.0001) compared to NP groups, regardless of the maternal diet. Offspring from HP gestation dams fed the DSS2 diet (HPDSS2) had a 41.2% increase of total adiposity compared to NPDSS2 (p < 0.03). Liver Insulin receptor and Insulin substrate receptor 1 expression was decreased in offspring from HP compared to NP gestation dams. These results showed the specific effects of DSS and maternal diet and data suggested that adult, female offspring exposed to a maternal HP diet during foetal life were more prone to adiposity development, in response to postweaning food conditions.

Highlights

During the perinatal period, foetus exposure to challenging environmental conditions and inappropriate nutrition, is critical and generates programming effects often revealedNutrients 2019, 11, 96; doi:10.3390/nu11010096 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2019, 11, 96 in adulthood [1,2]
The present study evaluated the influence of maternal HP diet during gestation on feeding behaviour using postweaning dietary self-selection (DSS) feeding and on metabolic phenotype characteristics in adult study in HP gestation dams fed the DSS2 diet (HPDSS2) compared to NPDSS2 rats, energy intake was not significantly different between the two
The present study showed that, in rats, a maternal HP diet during gestation followed by a postweaning DSS2 feeding, composed of three separate macronutrients, increased the susceptibility to energy balance disorders and obesity in female offspring

Summary

Introduction

Foetus exposure to challenging environmental conditions and inappropriate nutrition, is critical and generates programming effects often revealedNutrients 2019, 11, 96; doi:10.3390/nu11010096 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2019, 11, 96 in adulthood [1,2]. Studies show that the composition of the maternal diet may affect appetite and control of energy balance in the offspring [8,9,10] and that flavour exposure in utero represents a determinant for later food preferences [11]. These processes are instrumental for feeding behaviour and metabolic phenotype but may influence the predisposition to metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes and obesity [2,12].

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