Maternal Soybean Diet on Prevention of Offspring Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Our studies focus on elucidation of the potential mechanisms-mediated early-life gut microbiome development linking maternal dietary genistein (GE) intervention to its obesity prevention potential later in life through regulation of host metabolome and epigenome. Methods C57BL/6 (BL6) dams were provided GE diet during prenatal and postnatal periods. Weaned offspring were exposed to either control diet or a commercially available high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 wks to induce obesity. We evaluated various metabolic parameters, gut microbiome taxonomy, fecal/serum metabolomes (especially microbially-produced metabolites) and epigenetic changes in key glucose/lipid metabolism-related genes in adipose tissues during different developmental stages in BL6 offspring. Results Our studies found that maternal dietary GE a safe level significantly reduced the risk of HFD-induced body fat accumulation and glucose intolerance in mouse offspring. We also found that maternal GE consumption significantly affected the diversity and composition of childhood gut microbiota, the fecal metabolome as well as gene expressions of key glucose/lipid metabolism-related genes in offspring mice. Conclusions Our studies suggest that maternal GE consumption may shape early-life gut microbiome and the signature of bacterial metabolite profiles in the offspring, which may in turn alter the host epigenome and health outcomes. Funding Sources NIH/NCI, NIH/NCCIH.