The Investigation of The Metabolic Effect of High Salt or Western Diet During Pregnancy and Lactation on Rat Dams and Postnatal Offspring Rats

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the metabolic effect of maternal high-salt and western low-protein diets during pregnancy and lactation periods on rat dams and adult offspring. Methods: Female rat dams were divided into four groups and fed with a 1% high salt diet, a Western low-protein diet (high fat and sugar and low protein), or a 1% high salt/western low-protein combined diet (WS) during pregnancy and lactation. Afterward, 95 female and male offspring were divided into groups and fed with those diets until 18 weeks of age. The mothers’ and offspring rats' body weights and chow intake were recorded periodically. At 18 weeks of age, blood samples were collected from the offspring. Their blood lipid profiles, leptin, and insulin levels were analyzed. Results: Rat dams had similar weight changes during pregnancy and lactation. Rats exposed to the Western low-protein and WS diet during pregnancy, lactation, and/or postweaning had lower body weights than the control group. Male adult offspring from control dams and fed high salt were heavier and had higher LDL cholesterol than controls. However, rats from high salt dams and fed a high salt diet had lower body weights than the control group. Plasma insulin and leptin of male rats were not significantly different. Female offspring fed Western low-protein and WS diet in the fetal period or in early childhood had significantly low insulin. However, female rats exposed to Western low-protein and WS diets during pregnancy, lactation, and postweaning had similar insulin to control rats. Conclusion: Maintaining the maternal diet after lactation prevents the detrimental effect of a low-protein diet on insulin levels. Anti-obesity mechanism may develop in offspring exposed to a high salt diet during the fetal period against salt intake in later life.