Vitamin A Supplementation During Suckling and Post-Weaning Periods Improves Systemic and Adipose Tissue Redox Status in Offspring of Rats Consuming a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Dietary fat can contribute to oxidative stress and adipose tissue (AT) accrual which exacerbates redox imbalance. Vitamin A (VA) has been shown to regulate AT development and associated metabolic conditions in adult models; however, such effects of VA in early life stages, especially on redox status, has barely been studied. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of VA supplementation during suckling and post-weaning periods on systemic and AT redox status in rats reared by mothers consuming a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods Sprague-Dawley rats arrived on their second day of gestation and were randomized to either a normal-fat diet (NFD = 25% fat) or a HFD (50% fat) both with adequate VA at 2.6 mg/kg. Upon delivery of pups, half of rat mothers from the NFD cohort or HFD cohort were switched to a NFD or a HFD both with supplemented VA at 129 mg/kg (NFD + VA and HFD + VA group), respectively. The other half of mothers remained on their diets with adequate VA (NFD and HFD group). At postnatal day 14 (P14), P25, and P35, pups (n = 4 or 3/group/time point) were euthanized. Concentrations of VA, lipid peroxides, and antioxidant capacity (AC) of serum, visceral white AT (WAT) and brown AT (BAT) were measured. Results At all three time points, the lipid peroxides concentration in WAT was significantly lower in VA-supplemented groups as compared to their respective control (P < 0.0001 for NFD + VA vs. NFD; P < 0.05 for HFD + VA vs. HFD); lipid peroxides were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the HFD + VA group than in the NFD + VA group. A significantly (P < 0.05) positive correlation between the amount of VA and the lipophilic AC of the WAT was noted. For BAT, the NFD + VA group showed a significantly (P < 0.001) lower lipid peroxides concentration as compared to the NFD group. However, such effect was not observed in the HFD cohort. Serum lipid peroxides in the HFD + VA group were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the HFD group. A significant (P < 0.0001) negative correlation was found between the serum concentration of VA and lipid peroxides. Conclusions VA supplementation during suckling and post-weaning period improved both the systemic and WAT redox status of rats reared by mothers consuming a HFD, as well as the status within both WAT and BAT of pups nursed by mothers consuming a NFD. The differing results in WAT and BAT may suggest their different roles in redox biology. Funding Sources NIH