Polyphenols and IUGR Pregnancies: Effects of Maternal Hydroxytyrosol Supplementation on Hepatic Fat Accretion and Energy and Fatty Acids Profile of Fetal Tissues.

Garcia-Contreras Garcia-Contreras,Vazquez-Gomez Vazquez-Gomez,Ovilo Ovilo,Encinas Encinas,Torres-Rovira Torres-Rovira,Heras-Molina Heras-Molina,Isabel Isabel,Gonzalez-Bulnes Gonzalez-Bulnes,Astiz Astiz,Pardo Pardo,Nieto Nieto

doi:10.3390/nu11071534

Garcia-Contreras Garcia-Contreras, Vazquez-Gomez Vazquez-Gomez + Show 9 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071534

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Abstract

Maternal supplementation with hydroxytyrosol, a polyphenol present in olive leaves and fruits, is a highly promising strategy to improve the oxidative and metabolic status of fetuses at risk of intrauterine growth restriction, which may diminish the appearance of low-birth-weight neonates. The present study aimed to determine whether hydroxytyrosol, by preventing lipid peroxidation, may influence the fat accretion and energy homeostasis in the liver, as well as the fatty acid composition in the liver and muscle. The results indicate that hydroxytyrosol treatment significantly decreased the energy content of the fetal liver, without affecting fat accretion, and caused significant changes in the availability of fatty acids. There were significant increases in the amount of total polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, which are highly important for adequate fetal tissue development. However, there were increases in the omega-6/omega-3 ratio and the desaturation index, which make further studies necessary to determine possible effects on the pro/anti-inflammatory status of the fetuses.

Highlights

Offspring affected by a low-birth-weight (LBW) after suffering processes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are a concerning issue for both human and veterinary medicine, due to the short-term and long-term consequences of LBW
Maternal hydroxytyrosol supplementation was related to very few common changes in the neutral and polar fractions of the fetal liver (Tables 2 and 3); there was only a lower proportion of SFA and similar increases in eicosenoic (C20:1n-9) and adrenic (C22:4n-6) acids
The results of the present study indicate that the administration of hydroxytyrosol to pregnant sows induces significant changes on the energy content and the fatty acid composition in fetal tissues

Summary

Introduction

Offspring affected by a low-birth-weight (LBW) after suffering processes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are a concerning issue for both human and veterinary medicine, due to the short-term (increased mortality and morbidity of neonates) and long-term consequences of LBW (decreased growth patterns, health status and performance of individuals). A possible approach is the use of antioxidant agents. The main cause for IUGR is the inadequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, by either placental insufficiency or maternal malnutrition (which causes placental insufficiency [1,2]). Both placental insufficiency and maternal malnutrition cause hypoxia, and hypoxia increases oxidative stress and aggravates IUGR [3,4]. IUGR fetuses have a weakened antioxidant defense system [5,6] which exacerbates the condition. Antioxidant agents may be useful to improve the antioxidant/oxidative status during pregnancy

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