Diet In Pregnancy Research Articles

Sodium butyrate modulates blood pressure and gut microbiota in maternal tryptophan-free diet-induced hypertension rat offspring

Maternal nutrition, gut microbiome composition, and metabolites derived from gut microbiota are closely related to the development of hypertension in offspring. A plethora of metabolites generated from diverse tryptophan metabolic pathways show both beneficial and harmful effects. Butyrate, one of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), has shown vasodilation effects. We examined whether sodium butyrate administration in pregnancy and lactation can prevent hypertension induced by a maternal tryptophan-free diet in adult progeny and explored the protective mechanisms. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats received normal chow (CN), tryptophan-free diet (TF), sodium butyrate 400 mg/kg/d in drinking water (CNSB), or TF diet plus sodium butyrate (TFSB) in pregnancy and lactation. Male offspring were sacrificed at the age of 16 weeks (n=8 per group). Compared with normal chow, offspring exposed to the maternal tryptophan-free diet had markedly increased blood pressure, associated with activation of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Treatment with sodium butyrate rescued maternal TF-exposed offspring from hypertension. The protective effect of sodium butyrate is related to alterations to microbiome composition, increased renal expression of SCFA receptor G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR109A, and restoration of RAS balance. In summary, these results suggest that sodium butyrate protects against maternal TF-induced offspring hypertension, likely by modulating gut microbiota, its derived metabolites, and the RAS.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of whole grains versus refined grains diets on the microbiome in pregnancy

Dietary whole grain consumption has been postulated to have metabolic benefits. The purpose of this study was to compare a pregnancy diet containing 75% of total carbohydrates as refined grains with a diet of 75% of total carbohydrates as whole grains for pregnancy outcomes and effects on the microbiome. Gestational weight gain, glucose tolerance and newborn outcomes were measured on 248 enrolled compliant women from whom a subset of 103 women consented to give 108 vaginal and 109 anal swabs. The data presented here are limited to the patients from whom the vaginal and anal swabs were obtained in order to study the microbiome. A microbiome—16SrRNA survey—was characterized in these samples. Samples and measurements were obtained at the first obstetrical visit, before beginning a prescribed diet (T1—baseline) and after 17–32 weeks on the prescribed diet (T3). Food frequency questionnaires and total plasma alkylresorcinols were used as a measure of whole grain consumption. There were no dietary differences in maternal weight gain, birth weight, or glucose tolerance test. Mothers consuming the whole grains diet showed a trend of gestational decrease in vaginal bacterial alpha diversity, with increasing Lactobacillus-dominance. No significant difference was observed for the anal microbiome. The results suggest that diet modulations of the vaginal microbiome during gestation may have important implications for maternal and neonatal health and in the intergenerational transfer of maternal microbiome. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03232762.

Epigenetic changes induced by in utero dietary challenge result in phenotypic variability in successive generations of mice.

Transmission of epigenetic information between generations occurs in nematodes, flies and plants, mediated by specialised small RNA pathways, modified histones and DNA methylation. Similar processes in mammals can also affect phenotype through intergenerational or trans-generational mechanisms. Here we generate a luciferase knock-in reporter mouse for the imprinted Dlk1 locus to visualise and track epigenetic fidelity across generations. Exposure to high-fat diet in pregnancy provokes sustained re-expression of the normally silent maternal Dlk1 in offspring (loss of imprinting) and increased DNA methylation at the somatic differentially methylated region (sDMR). In the next generation heterogeneous Dlk1 mis-expression is seen exclusively among animals born to F1-exposed females. Oocytes from these females show altered gene and microRNA expression without changes in DNA methylation, and correct imprinting is restored in subsequent generations. Our results illustrate how diet impacts the foetal epigenome, disturbing canonical and non-canonical imprinting mechanisms to modulate the properties of successive generations of offspring.

IDF21-0336 Longer gestation and reduced birth centile in women who consume a low carbohydrate diet in pregnancy

Background: Studies of obstetric outcomes in women consuming low carbohydrate diets have reported conflicting results. The majority of these studies have defined low carbohydrate diets by the percentage that carbohydrates contribute to overall energy intake, rather than by an absolute amount in grams per day. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if a low absolute carbohydrate diet affects obstetric outcomes differently than a low percentage carbohydrate diet. Method: A cohort study was conducted using detailed dietary data collected in women enrolled in the Study of Probiotic IN Gestational diabetes at both 16 and 28 weeks’ gestation by food frequency questionnaire. Obstetric outcomes were compared between women whose carbohydrate intake was in the lowest quintile and women whose carbohydrate intake was in quintiles 2-5. Carbohydrate intake was firstly assessed in grams per day and secondly as a percentage of total energy consumption. Results: Mean gestation was increased in women whose carbohydrate intake in grams per day was in the lowest quintile at 16 and at both 16 & 28 weeks’ gestation compared with all other women. The difference was greatest when women consumed a low carbohydrate diet at both 16 and 28 weeks’ gestation (16: 39.7 vs 39.1 weeks, p = 0.008; 16 and 28: 39.8 vs 39.1, p = 0.005). Birth centile was decreased in offspring of women whose carbohydrate intake in grams per day was in the lowest quintile at 28 and at both 16 and 28 weeks’ gestation, but not at 16 weeks’ gestation. No differences in gestation at delivery or birth centile were seen in women whose carbohydrate intake was in the lowest quintile when analysed as a percentage of overall energy intake. Discussion: Low absolute carbohydrate intake in pregnancy is associated with different obstetric outcomes from a low percentage carbohydrate intake. Low absolute carbohydrate consumption in pregnancy is associated increased gestational age at delivery and reduced birth centile.

A case for preconceptual education programs for women: Integrative review

Exposure to environmental factors before conception or in the very early stage of the embryonic period, can cause permanent changes in an individual life that can result in the development of chronic illness later in life or be transferred to progeny and hence future generations. Diverse effects of poor diet, alcohol, tobacco consumption, infectious diseases, obesity, anxiety, and depression in pregnancy and fetal origin of adult diseases all are well documented and known. Many of these are preventable or can be modified or treated. The general provision of prepregnancy interventions, however, are neglected by current health system policy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50% of pregnancies worldwide are unintentional. The consequences of this is that embryo exposure to the teratogens can occur weeks before the pregnancy has been detected. Most women modify their risky behavior, such as smoking cessation, reducing alcohol consumption and even alter their lifestyle to a healthier one, such as consuming folic acid and multivitamins, when they learn about their pregnancy, typically around 8-10 weeks of gestational age. By this time, however, women have missed the opportunity of providing a healthy uterine environment for their fetus through the critical stage of the embryonic period. Preconception care is a relatively new concept and provides a unique opportunity to improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes before pregnancy, through pregnancy, and after birth. Despite the general acknowledgment of the potential valuable impact of preconception care, there are various impediments to implementation of preconception care as part of routine practice in the health system.

Eating Patterns during Pregnancy and Postpartum and Their Association with Diet Quality and Energy Intake.

This study investigates the relationship between meal-specific eating patterns during pregnancy and postpartum with maternal diet quality and energy intake. Participants in a prospective cohort study completed 24-h dietary recalls three times throughout both pregnancy and 1 year postpartum (n = 420). Linear regressions estimated the associations of eating frequency (number of daily main meals and eating occasions), meal and energy regularity (meal skipping and variation of daily energy intake), and intake timing patterns (distribution of energy intake throughout the day, derived using principal component analysis) with daily energy intake and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2015, calculated daily and overall, across both pregnancy and postpartum). Eating frequency was positively associated with energy intake and daily diet quality. Irregular meals were associated with lower energy intake in pregnancy but not postpartum and with lower pregnancy and postpartum diet quality. Energy irregularity was not associated with energy intake or diet quality. Higher postpartum diet quality was associated with a morning energy intake pattern (versus late morning/early afternoon or evening). Differences in these associations between pregnancy and postpartum suggest that efforts to support optimal energy intake and diet quality by modifying eating patterns may require specific strategies for pregnancy and postpartum.

Maternal Mediterranean diet in pregnancy and newborn DNA methylation: a meta-analysis in the PACE Consortium

ABSTRACT Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy is related to a lower risk of preterm birth and to better offspring cardiometabolic health. DNA methylation may be an underlying biological mechanism. We evaluated whether maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with offspring cord blood DNA methylation. We meta-analysed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and offspring cord blood DNA methylation in 2802 mother–child pairs from five cohorts. We calculated the relative Mediterranean diet (rMED) score with range 0–18 and an adjusted rMED excluding alcohol (rMEDp, range 0–16). DNA methylation was measured using Illumina 450K arrays. We used robust linear regression modelling adjusted for child sex, maternal education, age, smoking, body mass index, energy intake, batch, and cell types. We performed several functional analyses and examined the persistence of differential DNA methylation into childhood (4.5–7.8 y). rMEDp was associated with cord blood DNA methylation at cg23757341 (0.064% increase in DNA methylation per 1-point increase in the rMEDp score, SE = 0.011, P = 2.41 × 10−8). This cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) site maps to WNT5B, associated with adipogenesis and glycaemic phenotypes. We did not identify associations with childhood gene expression, nor did we find enriched biological pathways. The association did not persist into childhood. In this meta-analysis, maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet (excluding alcohol) during pregnancy was associated with cord blood DNA methylation level at cg23757341. Potential mediation of DNA methylation in associations with offspring health requires further study.

Associations between child filaggrin mutations and maternal diet with the development of allergic diseases in children.

Filaggrin (FLG) loss-of-function mutations in children and maternal diet in pregnancy have been implicated in child allergy outcomes. This paper studies the questions: "do FLG mutations modify the effect of maternal diet on the odds of development of allergic diseases?" and "which factor leads to the highest rate of diagnosis allergic diseases over time, maternal diet, or FLG mutations?". Exact logistic regressions studied effect modification. Cox proportional hazard models compared the rate of allergic disease development in three groups (N=624): (1) children with FLG mutation, (2) children without FLG mutation whose mothers did not eat an allergy preventive diet, and (3) children without FLG mutation whose mothers ate an allergy preventive diet. Maternal diet was classified using a validated index. Cox models showed the development of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze was significantly higher for children in group 1 versus 3 (HR=2.40 [1.32, 4.37], HR=2.29 [1.05, 4.97], and HR 2.10 [1.004, 4.38], respectively), but not significantly higher for children in group 1 versus 2 (HR=1.30 [0.74, 2.29], HR=1.27 [0.61, 2.63], and HR=1.29 [0.65, 2.58], respectively). Development of allergic rhinitis was significantly higher for group 1 versus 2 and 3 (1 vs. 2: HR=2.29 [1.10, 4.76]; 1 vs. 3: HR=3.21 [1.46, 7.08]). There was no significant effect modification for any outcome. Children with FLG mutation had similar risk of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze as children without an FLG mutation whose mothers did not eat an allergy preventive diet during pregnancy. Child FLG mutation did not modify the effect of maternal diet. The results suggest that maternal diet in pregnancy, a modifiable risk factor, could be a target for preventive interventions.

Performance, Rumen Microbial Community and Immune Status of Goat Kids Fed Leucaena leucocephala Post-weaning as Affected by Prenatal and Early Life Nutritional Interventions.

Leucaena leucocephala represents a local protein source in tropical ruminant diets. However, its full exploitation is impaired by mimosine, unless it is degraded by the rumen microbial community. Recently, the ruminal bacterial communities of newborns were persistently modified through prenatal or postnatal dietary interventions. Such early-life interventions might enhance adaptation of ruminants to Leucaena leucocephala, which was investigated using a 2 × 2 factorial design trial that tested both supplementation of L. leucocephala in the late pregnancy diet of goat does, and supplementation of live yeast to their newborns. The composition of ruminal bacteria, immune status, as well as organic matter digestibility (OMD) and performance of kids were studied during and after the intervention. Ten pregnant goats were divided into two groups: the D+ and D– groups, which either received or did not receive 30 g of L. leucocephala forage meal during the last 7 ± 0.5 weeks of gestation. Twins from each goat were divided into the K+ and K– group (supplemented with or without 0.2 g/d of live yeast from day 3 until weaning at 8 weeks). Rumen samples were collected from 4-, 8-, 14-, and 20-weeks old kids to assess the bacterial community, while immune parameters (white blood cells, immunoglobulin M and G, and chitotriosidase activity) were measured in blood and saliva sampled at 4-, 8-, and 20-weeks. We found a stimulatory effect of the prenatal exposure on the post-weaning dry matter intake of the L. leucocephala supplemented diet, resulting in a higher daily gain and final body weight at 20 weeks in the D+ vs. D– group (406 vs. 370 g DM/d, 85.4 vs. 78.6 g/d, and 15.2 vs. 13.8 kg, respectively). Moreover, Ruminococcus represented a greater proportion of the rumen bacterial community of the D+ vs. D– kids (5.1 vs. 1.6%). Differences in the immune status were relatively small and not thought to be a driving factor of differences in animal performance. Furthermore, postnatal supplementation of live yeast favored maturation of the rumen bacterial community (i.e., greater abundance of Bacteroidetes, in particular Prevotella, and reduced abundance of Firmicutes) and protozoa colonization. Concomitantly, OMD was enhanced post-weaning, suggesting effects of the early-life intervention persisted and could have affected animal performance.

Be Healthy in Pregnancy (BHIP): A Randomized Controlled Trial of Nutrition and Exercise Intervention from Early Pregnancy to Achieve Recommended Gestational Weight Gain.

A randomized two-arm prospective superiority trial tested the efficacy of a novel structured and monitored nutrition (bi-weekly counselling for individualized energy and high dairy protein diet) and exercise program (walking goal of 10,000 steps/day) (intervention) compared to usual care (control) in pregnant women to achieve gestational weight gain (GWG) within current recommendations. Women recruited in communities in southern Ontario, Canada were randomized at 12–17 weeks gestation with stratification by site and pre-pregnancy BMI to intervention (n = 119) or control (n = 122). The primary outcome was the proportion of women who achieved GWG within the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the intervention compared to control group was more likely to achieve GWG within recommendations (OR = 1.51; 95% CI (0.81, 2.80)) and total GWG was lower by 1.45 kg (95% CI: (−11.9, 8.88)) neither reached statistical significance. The intervention group achieved significantly higher protein intake at 26–28 week (mean difference (MD); 15.0 g/day; 95% CI (8.1, 21.9)) and 36–38 week gestation (MD = 15.2 g/day; 95% CI (9.4, 21.1)) and higher healthy diet scores (22.5 ± 6.9 vs. 18.7 ± 8.5, p < 0.005) but step counts were similar averaging 6335 steps/day. Pregnancy and infant birth outcomes were similar between groups. While the structured and monitored nutrition with counselling improved diet quality and protein intake and may have benefited GWG, the exercise goal of 10,000 steps/day was unachievable. The results can inform future recommendations for diet and physical activity in pregnancy.

BIRTH WEIGHT AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG LIVE BIRTHS AT CHITWAN MEDICAL COLLEGE, NEPAL

Background: Birth weight or size at birth is an essential indicator of the child’s vulnerability to the risk of childhood illnesses and diseases. Birth weight also predicts a child’s future health, growth, psychosocial development, and chances of survival. This study aimed to assess birth weight among live births in Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital. Methods: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using face-to-face interviews in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital. A total of 153 women giving live births were considered as a sample. The data was collected from14 August to 13 September. We used the Pearson’s Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis to assess the factors influencing birth weight among women giving live births in Chitwan Medical College Results: Among 153 women giving live births, birth weight of newborn among live births 119(77.8%) had normal birth weight, 31(20.3%)low birth weight, 3(2%) very low birth weight. Result shows that birth weight among live births differ significantly with [ethnicity (OR=1.94;CI(0.7-5.39)], [family income (OR=1.72(0.20-14.81)], [weeks of pregnancy (OR=2.01;(0.99-8.46)], [birth interval(OR=2.45(0.39-15.34)], [planned pregnancy (OR=1.26(0.33-4.73)], [any chronic disease(OR=1.72(0.97-4.58)], [diet in pregnancy (OR=2.11(0.20-15.07)], [ANC check-up(OR=6.75(2.44-18.64)]. Conclusions: Almost one-fourth of live births had low birth weight. Multiple arrays of factors were associated with birth weight, which must be addressed. Adequate antenatal care visits integrated with nutritional supplementation and family planning services should be a focus to reduce low birth weight among live births.

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy alters behavior in male rat offspring: nitrative stress and neuroinflammatory implications.

Pregnancy diet can impact offspring's neurodevelopment, metabolism, redox homeostasis, and inflammatory status. In pregnancy, folate demand is increased due to the requirement for one-carbon transfer reactions. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy on a battery of behavior tests (olfactory preference, motor activity, exploratory capacity, habituation, memory, anxiety- and depression-like behavior). Redox homeostasis and neuroinflammatory status in cerebral cortex were also investigated. After pregnancy confirmation, the pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet: group 1, (control) standard diet (2mg/kg diet of folic acid) and group 2, supplemented diet with 4mg/kg diet of folic acid. Throughout the gestational period, the pregnant rats received experimental diets. Results show that the supplemented diet with 4mg/kg diet of folic acid throughout pregnancy impaired memory and motricity of the offspring when compared with control (standard diet). It was also observed an increase in anxiety- and depression-like behavior in this group. Nitrite levels increased in cerebral cortex of the offspring, when compared to control group. In contrast, iNOS expression and immunocontent were not altered. Moreover, we identify an increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1 gene expression in the cerebral cortex. In conclusion, our study showed that the supplemented diet with 4mg/kg diet of folic acid throughout pregnancy may cause behavioral and biochemical changes in the male offspringGraphical abstract After pregnancy confirmation, the pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet: group 1, (control) standard diet (2mg/kg diet of folic acid) and group 2, supplemented diet with 4mg/kg diet of folic acid. Throughout the gestational period, the pregnant rats received experimental diets. Results show that folic acid supplementation did not impair the mother-pup relationship. We showed that supplemented diet with 4mg/kg diet of folic acid during pregnancy impairs memory and motricity of the offspring when compared with standard diet. It was also observed an increase in anxiety- and depression-like behavior in this group. Nitrative stress and neuroinflammation parameters were increased in the cerebral cortex of the offspring. ROS, reactive oxygen species.

Diet and mental health in pregnancy: Nutrients of importance based on large observational cohort data

ObjectiveTo determine associations between dietary intake and well-being in pregnancy. MethodsThis retrospective cohort analysis combined three studies: the ROLO Study (a randomized controlled trial of a low-glycemic-index diet in pregnancy), the Pregnancy Exercise and nutrition Research Study with smartphone application support (PEARS), and a randomized controlled trial on probiotics. All data were collected before study interventions (16 wk). Dietary intakes during pregnancy were determined using 3-day food diaries. The five-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index was used to assess mental well-being. Initial associations were evaluated using Pearson correlations and further defined with multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), Pobal Haase and Pratschke deprivation index, and metabolic equivalent of task minutes scores. ResultsA total of 1521 women were included in the analysis (mean age, 32+4 y; mean BMI, 27 kg/m2 [IQR, 17–56 kg/m2]). The mean well-being score was 59%. Regression analysis showed that fiber (B = 0.07; P = 0.02), magnesium (B = 0.08; P < 0.01), niacin (B = 0.09; P < 0.01), thiamine (B = 0.07; P = 0.01), and folate (B = 0.08; P = 0.02) were all positively and significantly associated with well-being in a pregnant population. The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to correct for multiple testing was applied, and significance remained. ConclusionsMaternal nutrition and well-being are related during early pregnancy. Our findings suggest that fiber, magnesium, and particular B vitamins may be of importance for promoting positive mental well-being during pregnancy.

Pregnancy outcomes with differences in grain consumption: a randomized controlled trial.

Contemporary obstetrics has begun to appreciate the importance of diet in pregnancy, but guidelines are not based on robust data. The hypothesis that a whole grains diet improves pregnancy outcomes is tested in this study. We compared maternal and neonatal outcomes for a pregnancy diet containing 75% of total carbohydrates as refined grains with outcomes for a diet with 75% of total carbohydrates as whole grains. This was a randomized interventional study in a clinic population over the last 4-7months of normal pregnancy with extensive compliance measures. Besides obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, anthropometric measurements were done. In addition to food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), total plasma alkyl resorcinols, a unique quantitative measure of whole grains, were used as a measure of whole grain consumption. The data show effective compliance and no difference in outcomes between the diets with regard to maternal weight gain, birth weights, subcutaneous fat and glucose tolerance. Ensuring compliance to a proper pregnancy diet resulted in satisfactory weight gain and normal outcomes even when the proportion of whole grains consumed is only 25% of total carbohydrates.

Diet Quality in Pregnancy and the Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction

The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI) is a tool developed by the US Department of Agriculture to assess the quality of a diet by evaluating 13 nutritional components. Given the link between maternal malnutrition and adverse long term pediatric outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that a high-quality diet (high HEI score) in pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Non-esterified fatty acids as biomarkers of diet and glucose homeostasis in pregnancy: The impact of fatty acid reporting methods: NEFA reporting methods affect dietary and cardiometabolic endpoints

Background: Sparse data exists on the utility of individual serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) as clinical and dietary biomarkers and how reporting methods could affect these associations. We investigated the associations of 19 serum NEFAs expressed as µM or mol%, with self-reported dietary intake data, and cardiometabolic health indicators in pregnant women.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 273 pregnant women in their second trimester each completed a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire and provided fasting serum samples. Comprehensive serum NEFA analysis was performed by multisegment injection-nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. We evaluated the associations of NEFAs using two different reporting methods, with diet quality, specific foods intake, and measures of adiposity and glucose homeostasis.Results: Consistently stronger dietary correlations were observed when expressed as mol%. Serum ω-3 NEFAs were associated with diet quality and fish/fish oil daily servings (DHA mol%, r= 0.37; p = 4.8e-10), and odd-chain NEFAs were associated with full-fat dairy intake (15:0 mol%, r = 0.23; p = 9.0e-5). Glucose intolerance was positively associated with odd chain NEFAs as expressed in µM (r = 0.21; p= 0.001) but inversely associated when expressed as mol% (r = −0.31; p= 2.2e-7). In contrast, monounsaturated NEFAs (µM and mol%) had robust positive associations with pre-pregnancy BMI, second trimester skin-fold thickness, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and glucose intolerance.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of specific NEFAs and their sub-classes as viable dietary and clinical biomarkers when reported as their relative proportions. More research is needed to investigate inconsistencies between absolute concentrations and relative proportions when reporting fatty acids.

Effect of high-fat diet for rats at different stages on glucose and lipid metabolism in offspring and related mechanisms.

To study the effect of high-fat diet for maternal Sprague-Dawley rats at different stages on glucose and lipid metabolism in offspring and related mechanisms. According to the diet before pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation, maternal rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=9 each): CC (control diet before pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation), HC (high-fat diet before pregnancy and control diet during pregnancy and lactation), CH (control diet before pregnancy and high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation), and HH (high-fat diet before pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation), and all offspring rats were given control diet after weaning. The body weight of maternal rats was recorded before and during pregnancy. Male offspring rats were selected from each group at the juvenile stage (3-week old) and the adult stage (12-week old) to measure the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) and the levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the liver. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Lipid deposition in the liver was observed, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the key genes in glucose and lipid metabolism (IR, IRS, and AKT), FASN, SREBP1c, and PPARα in the liver were also measured. Compared with the control diet groups (CC and CH groups), the groups with high-fat diet before pregnancy (HC and HH groups) had a significant increase in body weight (P<0.001). Compared with the CC group, the HC, CH, and HH groups had a significantly greater increase in body weight (P<0.001). Compared with the CC group, the HC, CH, and HH groups had significant increases in body weight, the levels of TG and TC in the liver, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of FASN, SREBP1c, and PPARα in the offspring rats at week 3 after birth (P<0.05), as well as a significant increase in lipid deposition in the liver, with the most significant increase of the parameters in the HH group. Compared with the CC group, the HH group had significant increases in the levels of FBG and FINS, HOMA-IR index, GTT-AUC, ITT-AUC, and the protein expression level of p-IRS in the liver and significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of IR and IRS in the liver in the offspring rats at week 3 after birth (P<0.05). Compared with the CC group, the HC, CH, and HH groups had significant increases in body weight, the levels of FBG and FINS, HOMA-IR index, GTT-AUC, ITT-AUC, the levels of TG and TC in the liver, protein expression level of p-IRS in the liver, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of FASN, SREBP1c, and PPARα in the offspring rats at week 12 after birth (P<0.05), as well as a significant increase in lipid deposition in the liver, with the most increase of the parameters in the HH group. Compared with the CC group, the HC, CH, and HH groups had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of IR, IRS, and AKT and the protein expression levels of IR, IRS, and p-AKT in the offspring rats at week 12 after birth (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of glucose and lipid metabolism between the HC and CH groups at various stages (P>0.05). High-fat diet for rats at different stages before and after pregnancy has different effects on glucose and lipid metabolism of offspring rats, and high-fat diet before pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation has the greatest effect. The effect of high-fat diet on glucose and lipid metabolism of offspring rats is considered associated with the changes in the expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Maternal Outcome of Anemic Pregnant Mother at Private Hospitals in Dhaka City

Introduction: The study carried out among the pregnant women who had anemia during pregnancy with the objectives to determine their maternal outcome at private hospitals in Dhaka city. Materials and Methods: The total sample size was 110. Data was collected by interviewing the respondents with a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The study was conducted in pregnant women with anemia at or after 28 weeks of gestation and had delivered at Obstetrics Department of Ad-Din Barrister Rafique ul-Huq Hospital, Jurain and Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College Hospital South Keranigonj. Results: Most of the respondents (38.2%) belonged to the age group between 16-20 years. The mean age was 23.74±5.127 years. Almost (49.1%) up to primary &amp; (38.2%) were up to secondary/higher secondary level. Most of the respondents were homemaker (87.3%); Monthly income means was 19340.91±12459.647. Most (90.9%) of the respondents had received ANC and 79.1% respondent’s hemoglobin level was below 10 gm. /dl. Among them 90.9% of the respondent’s fetal outcome were healthy &amp; alive baby. More than half (51.8%) of the respondent’s baby were _ 2.5 kg birth weight. Study also shows that 55.5% respondents had anemia after delivery, 28.2% had sickness and 22.7% were sulfured with complications after delivery. There was a significant relationship with low birth weights (LBW) to less high education. Conclusion: All women should be given advice regarding diet in pregnancy with details of foods rich in iron. Dietary changes alone are not sufficient to correct an existing iron deficiency in pregnancy and iron supplements are necessary. Medicine Today 2021 Vol.33(2): 102-107

Did the Diet During Pregnancy of Mothers of Infants With Colic Differ From That of Control Infants?

Neonatal colic is a problem in many young infants. The dietary intakes of women during pregnancy may play an important role in maternal health and fetal development and also in the health of the baby's body system after birth. The aim of this study was to compare maternal food intake during pregnancy in infants with colic and in colic-free infants. We compared reports of food intake during pregnancy of 149 women whose infants had colic with 151 women whose infants did not have colic using a retrospective food frequency questionnaire. Few differences were found in maternal dietary intake of cheese, fish, and poultry during pregnancy (P &lt; .001, P = .002, and P = .011, respectively). In addition, mothers of infants with colic reported eating fewer fruit and vegetables than controls during pregnancy (P = .005 and P &lt; .001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the consumption of fast foods and beverages as well as the type of dairy products and the type of oil consumed by mothers in the 2 groups. Mothers should not blame their pregnancy diet for their infants' colic, but a healthy diet has proven effects on fetal health.

Maternal pregnancy diet, postnatal home environment and executive function and behavior in 3- to 4-y-olds

Optimal maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been linked to better cognitive and behavioral development in children. However, its influence on the effects of suboptimal postnatal exposures like reduced stimulation and support in the home is not known. To examine the effect of maternal pregnancy diet on executive function and/or behavioral development in children raised in suboptimal home environments. Data were provided by 808 mother-infant dyads from the Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals-Child Development study. Maternal pregnancy diet was self-reported using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 questionnaire. Stimulation and support in the home was assessed using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) when children were 3-4 y old. Child executive function was reported by mothers at this age using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Preschool Edition, and child behavior was assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2nd Edition. We examined the interaction of maternal pregnancy diet and postnatal HOME scores on child executive function and behavior using linear regression adjusted for maternal education, postpartum depression, prepregnancy BMI, and smoking. Maternal pregnancy diet was associated with an increasingly positive association with child working memory (β: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.82, 3.41; P=0.001), planning (β: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.38, 2.84; P=0.007), and adaptability (β: -0.13; 95% CI: -1.72, -0.08; P=0.032) as levels of postnatal stimulation decreased. The positive association of maternal pregnancy diet quality and executive function and adaptability in 3- to 4-y-olds appeared to increase with decreasing levels of postnatal stimulation and support. These results suggest that overall maternal pregnancy diet could be linked to better child neurodevelopment in families experiencing barriers to providing stimulation and support to children in their home.