Maternal Food Research Articles

Maternal Characteristics and Iron Intake as a Factors of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is a critical period for fetal growth and development, nutritional issues can significantly affect both maternal and fetal health. This phase is marked by increased nutritional needs to support fetal development and maintain maternal well-being. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Parung Panjang District Health Center, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 pregnant women, examining various maternal characteristics and nutrient adequacy levels. The prevalence of anemia was found to be 36%. Parity emerged as a significant factor, with primipara mothers showing a higher anemia rate (46%) compared to multipara mothers (23.8%). Iron intake adequacy was also significantly associated with anemia status (p = 0.050). Women with insufficient iron intake had a higher rate of anemia (45.7%) compared to those with sufficient intake (26.1%). Other factors such as maternal age, education, and vitamin C intake did not show significant associations with anemia. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions for primipara mothers and emphasize the crucial role of adequate iron intake during pregnancy. The study underscores the need for comprehensive anemia prevention strategies in prenatal care.

Maternal exploitation: impact of maternal food snatching behaviour on the growth of their offspring in Japanese macaques.

There is little information on maternal behaviour that deprives offspring of food, but some Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata, mothers have been observed to snatch food from their offspring and eat it. This study investigated maternal food snatching behaviour (MFSB) and its impact on the growth of their offspring in provisioned, free-ranging Japanese macaques. The amount of food a mother snatched from her offspring was estimated to be 51.2% by dry weight compared to the amount of solid food an infant of the same age took in. Body mass growth of affected infants indicated a below-average mass gain. The study suggests that MFSB might be a pathological behaviour and provides the first detailed account of parental exploitation in animals.

Influence of Maternal Adipokines on Anthropometry, Adiposity, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of the Offspring.

Pregnancy is distinguished by a multitude of intricate interactions between the mother and the new individual, commencing at implantation and persisting until the maturation and integration of the fetal apparatus and systems. The physiological increase in fat mass during pregnancy and the association of maternal obesity with adverse neonatal outcomes have directed attention to the study of maternal adipokines as participants in fetal development. Interestingly, maternal concentrations of certain adipokines such as adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 have been found to be associated with offspring anthropometry and adiposity at birth and at three months of age, even with neurodevelopmental alterations later in life. This is partly explained by the functions of these adipokines in the regulation of maternal metabolism and placental nutrient transport. This review compiles, organizes, and analyzes the most relevant studies on the association between maternal adipokines with anthropometry, adiposity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring. Furthermore, it proposes the underlying mechanisms involved in this association.

Effectiveness of The Culture-Based Anti-Stunting Education Package on Family Behavioral Changes in Stunting Prevention

Stunting remains a pressing global health concern, as evidenced by the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia. The Pasuruan Regency Government continues its efforts to reduce the stunting rate. Coastal areas are characterized by a relatively high incidence of stunting, which stands at 22.8%. The urgency of this research lies in the need for a change in family behavior toward stunting prevention through education optimalization in coastal areas. Stunting prevention education within the family can be summarized into the "Anti-Stunting Education Package", consisting of education on nutritious maternal food intake starting from 1000 days before childbirth, exclusive breastfeeding, adolescent health, and access to clean water. This research aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-stunting education package in changing family behavior to prevent stunting in coastal areas. This was pre-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design approach. The research is conducted in coastal areas with a sample size of 30 stunting families selected through purposive sampling. The results of the research indicate that the Anti-Stunting Education Package is highly effective in improving knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral changes among mothers in supporting stunting prevention in coastal areas. This study falls under TKT 3, which demonstrates the analytical concept and experimental functions, providing stunting education through booklets with a focus on local culture to prevent stunting in coastal areas. The outcomes of this research serve as an innovation and technological development for maritime community well-being.

Organic food consumption during pregnancy and symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders at 8 years of age in the offspring: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

BackgroundPartially driven by public concerns about modern food production practices, organic food has gained popularity among consumers. However, the impact of organic food consumption during pregnancy on offspring health is scarcely studied. We aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of organic food during pregnancy and symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring at 8 years of age.MethodsThis study was based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). The total study sample included 40,707 mother–child pairs (children born 2002–2009). Organic food consumption during pregnancy was assessed by six questions from a food frequency questionnaire in mid-pregnancy (sum score 0–18). Symptoms of ADHD and ASD in the offspring aged 8 years were measured by ADHD (0–54) and ASD (0–39) symptom scores based on the Parent/Teacher Rating Scale for Disruptive Behaviour disorders and the Social Communication Questionnaire. Associations between maternal intake of organic food during pregnancy and symptoms of ADHD and ASD in the offspring were analyzed using regression models with adjustment for covariates such as maternal anxiety and depression, including sibling analysis.ResultsMean ADHD and ASD symptom scores in the offspring differed only slightly by maternal intake of organic food. The covariate-adjusted unstandardized regression coefficient (adjusted(Adj)beta) with 95% confidence interval for the ADHD symptom score with one unit increase in organic food sum score was 0.03 (0.01, 0.05). Similarly, Adjbeta for autism symptom score was 0.07 (0.04, 0.10). For ADHD, the adjusted estimates weakened when adjusting for maternal symptoms of ADHD. The sibling analyses showed no significant results with Adjbeta − 0.07 (− 0.15, 0.01) and − 0.001 (− 0.12, 0.12) for ADHD and ASD outcomes, respectively.ConclusionsWe observed weak positive associations between frequent maternal organic food consumption during pregnancy and offspring ADHD and ASD symptom levels at 8 years of age. This trend weakened or disappeared after adjusting for maternal symptoms of ADHD, and in sibling analyses, suggesting that the associations mainly reflect genetic confounding. Our study indicates that consumption of organic food during pregnancy should neither be considered a risk factor nor protective against symptoms of ADHD and ASD in offspring.

Maternal Nutrition and Human Milk Nutrients

Abstract Purpose: To explore the influence of maternal nutrition factors, including body mass index, nutritional supplementation, and dietary intake during the breastfeeding period, on macro and micronutrient composition in human milk. Study Design and Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-ScR checklist, initially identifying 5,984 original studies published in the English language from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science that presented findings on the association of maternal nutritional factors on human milk nutrient composition. After screening the title and abstract, we selected 69 studies for full review, including 3 studies found through checking reference lists. After full review, we included 23 studies in this scoping review. Results: Most studies found maternal body mass index and supplement consumption affected human milk macro and micronutrient composition, whereas inconsistent results were found on the relationship between maternal diet and human milk nutrients. Methodologies varied substantially across studies, especially for milk sample collection methods and maternal nutrition assessments. Clinical implications: Maternal nutrition factors may affect levels of human milk nutrients, requiring maternal nutrition monitoring during breastfeeding. However, given the considerable variability in the results between studies and methodological approaches, further studies should use standardized and validated procedures to strengthen the findings on this topic.

Maternal-fetal interfaces transcriptome changes associated with placental insufficiency and a novel gene therapy intervention.

The etiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is multifactorial, although many cases involve placental insufficiency. Placental insufficiency is associated with inadequate trophoblast invasion resulting in high resistance to blood flow, decreased availability of nutrients, and increased hypoxia. We have developed a non-viral, polymer-based nanoparticle that facilitates delivery and transient gene expression of human insulin-like 1 growth factor (hIGF1) in trophoblast for the treatment of placenta insufficiency and FGR. Using the established guinea pig maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) model of placental insufficiency, the aim of the study was to identify novel pathways in the sub-placenta/decidua that provide insight into the underlying mechanism driving placental insufficiency, and may be corrected with hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment. Pregnant guinea pigs underwent ultrasound-guided sham or hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment at mid-pregnancy, and sub-placenta/decidua tissue was collected 5 days later. Transcriptome analysis was performed using RNA Sequencing on the Illumina platform. The MNR sub-placenta/decidua demonstrated fewer maternal spiral arteries lined by trophoblast, shallower trophoblast invasion and downregulation of genelists involved in the regulation of cell migration. hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment resulted in marked changes to transporter activity in the MNR + hIGF1 sub-placenta/decidua when compared to sham MNR. Under normal growth conditions however, hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment decreased genelists enriched for kinase signaling pathways and increased genelists enriched for proteolysis indicative of homeostasis. Overall, this study identified changes to the sub-placenta/decidua transcriptome that likely result in inadequate trophoblast invasion and increases our understanding of pathways that hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment acts on in order to restore or maintain appropriate placenta function.

Dietary supplementation with pterostilbene activates the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway to alleviate progressive oxidative stress and promote placental nutrient transport

BackgroundProgressive oxidative stress easily occurs as a result of a gradual increase in the intensity of maternal metabolism due to rapid foetal development and increased intensity of lactation. However, studies on the effects of processive oxidative stress on nutrient transport in the placenta have received little attention. The present study was conducted on sows at 85 days of gestation to study the effects of pterostilbene (PTE) on maternal oxidative stress status and placental nutrient transport.ResultsPTE increased the antioxidant capacity and immunoglobulin content in mothers’ blood and milk, reduced the level of inflammatory factors, and improved the nutrient content of milk. PTE also reduced sow backfat loss and the number of weak sons, and increased piglet weaning weight and total weaning litter weight. We subsequently found that PTE enhanced placental glucose and fatty acid transport and further affected glycolipid metabolism by increasing the expression of LAL, PYGM, and Gbe-1, which activated the PI3K phosphorylation pathway. Moreover, PTE addition altered the relative abundance of the Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Parabacillus, and Bacteroidetes-like RF16 groups in sow faeces. PTE increased the levels of acetate, propionate, butyrate and isovalerate in the faeces.ConclusionsThese findings reveal that the addition of PTE during pregnancy and lactation mitigates the effects of processive oxidative stress on offspring development by altering maternal microbial and placental nutrient transport capacity.Graphical

7561 Maternal Sucrose Consumption During Gestation Alone Does Not Affect Glucocorticoids and Aldosterone in the Fetal Brain and Blood of Rats

Abstract Disclosure: M.M. Jung: None. D.R. Seib: None. M. Idrissi: None. H.W. Chen: None. K.K. Soma: None. Sucrose (table sugar) is a common added sugar in foods and beverages. Sucrose intake is high worldwide, yet little is known about how sucrose affects the brain and hormones. We designed an isocaloric, macro/micro-nutrient matched control diet (1% kcal sucrose) and high-sucrose diet (26% kcal sucrose) paradigm where the two diets only differ in kcal from sucrose. In this paradigm, maternal high-sucrose diet intake alters glucocorticoids (GCs) which are steroid hormones that regulate numerous physiological processes including the stress response. 16 wk of maternal sucrose intake (10 wk before mating, 3 wk during gestation, and 3 wk during lactation) increases blood and brain corticosterone levels in adult female offspring. Moreover, 13 wk of maternal sucrose intake (10 wk before mating and 3 wk during gestation) increases 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC, corticosterone precursor) and 11-dehydrocorticosterone (DHC, corticosterone metabolite) in maternal serum, and increases aldosterone in fetal blood and brain at embryonic day 19.5 (E19.5). These results suggest that long-term maternal sucrose intake is a stressor that alters GC and aldosterone signalling. It is unclear whether a maternal high-sucrose diet only during gestation alters fetal steroid levels, or whether long-term sucrose consumption before mating is necessary. Here, we investigate the effects of maternal sucrose intake during gestation only on GCs and aldosterone in the fetal blood and brain. We hypothesize that maternal sucrose intake only during gestation will alter GC and aldosterone signaling in the fetus. We predict that maternal sucrose consumption during gestation alone will increase GC and aldosterone levels in the fetal blood and brain. Female Long-Evans rats were fed either a high-sucrose diet or a control diet starting E0.5 (day of mating confirmation) (n=15/diet). On E19.5, we collected fetal brain and blood and microdissected the regions of the fetal brain that are sensitive to GCs and aldosterone: nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hypothalamus, ventral hippocampus, and ventral tegmental area. We measured a panel of 15 steroids including GCs and aldosterone in the fetal brain (0.8-1.6 mg/region) and blood (5 µL) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the gold standard for steroid quantification. Maternal high-sucrose diet intake during gestation alone did not alter maternal food intake, maternal body mass, or litter size, but increased the percentage of male offspring per litter. Maternal sucrose intake did not alter DOC, corticosterone, or DHC levels in the fetal blood and brain regions. Aldosterone was not detected in the fetal blood and brain. These results suggest that maternal sucrose intake during gestation alone does not alter GC and aldosterone levels in the developing fetus and that a longer duration of maternal sucrose intake is needed to alter offspring endocrine physiology. Presentation: 6/1/2024

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Different Infant Feeding Types: The Observational Study GREEN MOTHER.

To observe and compare the environmental impacts of different types of infant feeding, considering the use of formula, infant feeding accessories, potentially increased maternal dietary intake during breastfeeding (BF) and food consumption habits. An observational cross-sectional multicentre study conducted in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area of the Catalan Institute of Health. Data were collected from 419 postpartum women on infant feeding type (formula milk and accessories), maternal dietary intake (24-h register) and food consumption habits from November 2022 to April 2023. The environmental impacts (climate change (CC), water consumption and water scarcity) of the infant feeding types and maternal diet were calculated using the IPCC, ReCiPE and AWARE indicators, respectively. The differences in impacts were calculated by Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant differences for the three environmental impacts were observed. The CC impact of formula milk and feeding accessories was 0.01 kg CO2eq for exclusive BF, 1.55 kg CO2eq for mixed feeding and 4.98 kg CO2eq for formula feeding. While BF mothers consumed an extra 238 kcal, no significant differences were found related to maternal diet across feeding types. Exclusive BF was the most sustainable type of infant feeding, considering formula and infant feeding accessories. In our study, the difference between the impacts of BF and non-BF mothers' diet was insignificant. Offer informative and educational support for midwives and other healthcare professionals on BF and a healthy, sustainable diet to transfer this knowledge to the general public. Raise the general public's awareness about BF and a healthy, sustainable diet. To reduce environmental impacts through behavioural changes. STROBE. Patients of the Catalan Health Service reviewed the content of the data collection tools. (for the whole GREEN MOTHER project): NCT05729581 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Offspring Brain Development: Insights from Neuroimaging.

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is known to be important for offspring growth and health and has also been increasingly recognized for shaping offspring brain development. On the other hand, recent advancements in brain imaging technology have provided unprecedented insights into fetal, neonatal, and pediatric brain morphometry and function. This review synthesizes the current literature regarding the impact of maternal nutrition on offspring brain development, with a specific focus on findings from neuroimaging studies. The diverse effects of maternal nutrients intake or status during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children are discussed. Neuroimaging evidence showed associations between maternal nutrition such as food categories, macronutrients, and micronutrients including vitamins and minerals during pregnancy and child brain imaging features measured using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG). This review demonstrates the capability of neuroimaging in characterizing how maternal nutrition during pregnancy impacts structure and function of the developing brain that may further influence long-term neuropsychological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in children. It aims to inspire future research utilizing neuroimaging to deepen our understanding of the critical impacts of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on offspring brain development.

Cloud point extraction and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles isolated from infant milk formulas

The increasing presence of nanoparticles in food products, especially in those consumed by sensitive populations like infants, raises justified health concerns. The presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in three different commercial infant milk formulas were analyzed. In addition, one maternal food supplement was included in this study. Notably, existing regulations lack specificity regarding the size distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) and the maximum permissible concentrations in commercial infant products. Except in one sample, the total zinc content exceeded the reported amount in the nutritional label, which varied from 34 to 119 µg/g. This work validated the cloud point extraction (CPE) technique for the effective isolation of ZnO-NPs from the selected products. CPE was then used to evaluate the ZnO-NPs concentrations in commercially available infant formulas and maternal supplements. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), the ZnO-NPs and total Zn concentrations were determined. The ZnO-NPs concentration ranged from 16 to 39 µg/g, representing a considerable portion of the total zinc content. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis indicated the presence of nanoparticles with an average diameter of 6.3 nm. The NPs size could determine their cell internalization, and thus, the potential cytotoxic effects are discussed. These findings underscore the need for rigorous isolation and quantification of nanoparticles from infant milk formulas, and as an inevitable first step for in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies to address the potential health impact of nanoparticles in food products.

Nutrition literacy and eating habits in children from food-secure versus food-insecure households: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to explore whether maternal food and nutrition literacy (FNL) can mitigate negative effects of food insecurity on children's eating habits and assist food-insecure households in making better nutrition choices with limited resources available. A cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 6 to 12 years and their mothers. FNL was assessed using a validated Food and Nutrition Literacy Assessment Tool, and household food security was evaluated with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Eating habits were measured through a structured questionnaire that focused on various dietary habits. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations between maternal FNL, food insecurity status, and children's eating habits. A total of 327 children-mothers, comprising 159 food-secure and 168 food-insecure households, were evaluated. Maternal FNL was inversely associated with consumption of fast-foods and fried foods, and skipping breakfast in both food-secure and food-insecure participants. However, only food-secure participants showed an inverse association between FNL and the habit of eating out. Both groups indicated lower sweet consumption associated with higher FNL. Maternal FNL was inversely associated with lower dairy and nut intake in food-secure group and lower fruit and vegetable consumption in food-insecure participants. This study suggests that in conditions of food insecurity FNL may reduce the negative impact of food insecurity on children's nutrition choices and food habits.

NOTUM-mediated WNT silencing drives extravillous trophoblast cell lineage development

Trophoblast stem (TS) cells have the unique capacity to differentiate into specialized cell types, including extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. EVT cells invade into and transform the uterus where they act to remodel the vasculature facilitating the redirection of maternal nutrients to the developing fetus. Disruptions in EVT cell development and function are at the core of pregnancy-related disease. WNT-activated signal transduction is a conserved regulator of morphogenesis of many organ systems, including the placenta. In human TS cells, activation of canonical WNT signaling is critical for maintenance of the TS cell stem state and its downregulation accompanies EVT cell differentiation. We show that aberrant WNT signaling undermines EVT cell differentiation. Notum, palmitoleoyl-protein carboxylesterase (NOTUM), a negative regulator of canonical WNT signaling, was prominently expressed in first-trimester EVT cells developing in situ and up-regulated in EVT cells derived from human TS cells. Furthermore, NOTUM was required for optimal human TS cell differentiation to EVT cells. Activation of NOTUM in EVT cells is driven, at least in part, by endothelial Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain 1 (also called hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha). Collectively, our findings indicate that canonical Wingless-related integration site (WNT) signaling is essential for maintenance of human trophoblast cell stemness and regulation of human TS cell differentiation. Downregulation of canonical WNT signaling via the actions of NOTUM is required for optimal EVT cell differentiation.

The role of SNAP and WIC in the bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms

BackgroundThe association between food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms has been established by many cross-sectional and longitudinal studies however the understanding of the reciprocal relationship between them remains unclear. Further, previous research demonstrates that federal nutrition assistance decreases food insecurity and promotes maternal mental well-being but further research is needed to elucidate the moderating role of these programs in the association between food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms. Therefore, the current study examined the bidirectional associations between maternal depression probability and food insecurity using cross-lagged models and then tested the main and moderating effects of SNAP and WIC. MethodsData were from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study and the sample included 1948 mothers who participated in year 3 and year 5 of data collection. ResultsThe cross-lagged paths show that food insecurity at year 3 predicted maternal depression probability at year 5 and depression probability at year 3 predicted food insecurity at year 5. There was a significant moderating effect of WIC receipt on the association between food insecurity at year 3 and at year 5 such that when mothers with high food insecurity at year 3 received WIC, they were less food insecure at year 5. LimitationsThe study oversampled for unmarried mothers only two waves of data were used for the cross-lagged panel models. ConclusionsResults demonstrate the need to incorporate mental health services with the existing food assistance programs and the need to destigmatize the application process and program structure.

Impact of xylene exposure during organogenesis on foeto-placental efficiency and foetal viability: Exploring its association with oxidative stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in utero.

The potential maternal and foetal toxicity resulting from exposure to xylene at or below the allowable limit of 100 ppm during gestation is not thoroughly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate maternal and foetal outcomes following prenatal exposure to xylene during organogenesis. Pregnant Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were administered intraperitoneal (IP) corn oil (vehicle), 100, 500, and 1000 parts per million (ppm) of xylene from gestational day (GD) 6 until GD17. Clinical signs, maternal weight gain, and food consumption were recorded daily. A caesarean hysterectomy was performed on GD21 to assess the reproductive and foetal outcomes. Exposure to 1000 ppm of xylene caused a significant decrease in the maternal body weight and food consumption, and an increase in intrauterine foetal deaths. Foetal assessment revealed a significant decrease in foetal weight in both male and female foetuses of female rats treated with 500 and 1000 ppm. Male placental weight was significantly decreased in all xylene-treated groups, while 1000 ppm xylene significantly decreased female placental weight. Histologically, marked uterine inflammatory lesions, fibrosis of the liver and renal tissues, as well as increased placental glycogen content were observed. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and apoptotic markers. Thus, the foeto-maternal toxicities of xylene have been shown to be mediated by a systemic inflammatory response that exacerbates intrauterine oxidative stress and impairs foeto-placental transfer, leading to an increase in foetal mortality.

Placental Nanoparticle-mediated IGF1 Gene Therapy Corrects Fetal Growth Restriction in a Guinea Pig Model.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) caused by placental insufficiency is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is currently no in utero treatment for placental insufficiency or FGR. The placenta serves as the vital communication, supply, exchange, and defense organ for the developing fetus and offers an excellent opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Here we show efficacy of repeated treatments of trophoblast-specific human insulin-like 1 growth factor (IGF1) gene therapy delivered in a non-viral, polymer nanoparticle to the placenta for the treatment of FGR. Using a guinea pig maternal nutrient restriction model (70% food intake) of FGR, nanoparticle-mediated IGF1 treatment was delivered to the placenta via ultrasound guidance across the second half of pregnancy, after establishment of FGR. This treatment resulted in correction of fetal weight in MNR + IGF1 animals compared to sham treated controls on an ad libitum diet, increased fetal blood glucose and decreased fetal blood cortisol levels compared to sham treated MNR, and showed no negative maternal side-effects. Overall, we show a therapy capable of positively impacting the entire pregnancy environment: maternal, placental, and fetal. This combined with our previous studies using this therapy at mid pregnancy in the guinea pig and in two different mouse model and three different human in vitro/ex vivo models, demonstrate the plausibility of this therapy for future human translation. Our overall goal is to improve health outcomes of neonates and decrease numerous morbidities associated with the developmental origins of disease.

Maternal pregnancy diet quality, night eating, and offspring metabolic health: the GUSTO study.

We investigated the understudied influence of maternal diet quality, food timing, and their interactions during pregnancy on offspring metabolic health. Maternal diet at 26-28 weeks' gestation was assessed using a 24-h recall and adherence to the modified-healthy-eating-index (HEI-SGP) reflects diet quality. Predominant night-eating (PNE) was defined as consuming >50% of total daily energy intake from 19:00 to 06:59. Outcomes were offspring composite metabolic syndrome score and its components measured at age 6 years. Multivariable linear regressions adjusted for relevant maternal and child covariates assessed associations of diet quality and PNE with these outcomes. Up to 758 mother-child pairs were included. The mean(SD) maternal HEI-SGP score was 52.3(13.7) points (theoretical range: 0-100) and 15% of the mothers demonstrated PNE. Maternal diet quality showed inverse relationship with offspring HomeostaticModel AssessmentforInsulinResistance (HOMA-IR) [β(95% CI): -0.08(-0.15, -0.02) per-10-point HEI-SGP increment; P = 0.012]. Maternal PNE was associated with a higher offspring HOMA-IR [0.28(0.06, 0.50); P = 0.012], with similar estimates after adjustment for children's BMI and diet quality; the association was stronger for boys (P-interaction<0.001) and among mothers with lower diet quality (<median HEI-SGP) (P-interaction = 0.062). Maternal PNE and low dietary quality were associated with a higher level of insulin resistance in early childhood, especially among boys. We demonstrated that maternal predominant night-eating behavior and low-quality diet are associated with higher offspring insulin resistance. Maternal low-quality diet and predominant night-eating behavior synergistically interact to influence offspring insulin resistance, particularly among boys. While maternal diet quality and food timing impact the mother's health, their influence on offspring long-term health outcomes through developmental programming is not well understood. Our findings highlight the significance of maternal food timing and calls for further studies on its influence on child health through developmental programming. Targeting both dietary quality and food timing during pregnancy could be a promising intervention strategy.

437 Fetal Programming in Sheep: Epigenetic modifications in offspring from poorly nourished dams

Abstract Poor maternal nutrition (restricted- and over-feeding) during gestation can negatively impact the efficiency of livestock production by generating offspring with decreased muscle mass, increased adiposity, and impaired metabolism. The mechanisms behind these altered phenotypes are not well-characterized. The effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on offspring growth and development begin in utero and contribute to metabolic dysregulation of offspring into maturity and across subsequent generations, demonstrating long-term negative effects on the livestock. Fetal programming results in epigenetic modifications that can involve changes in offspring gene expression and downstream function, with no alteration on the DNA sequence. Using a sheep model of poor maternal nutrition, we have previously shown that F1 offspring from restricted- and over-fed dams are smaller at 10 mo of age relative to offspring from control-fed dams. Additionally, we observed that this phenotype persisted in the F2 offspring from restricted-fed granddams, while F2 offspring from over- and control-fed granddams were of similar body weight. We have recently demonstrated that F1 offspring from poorly nourished ewes have differential methylation patterns and altered gene expression in liver tissue demonstrating a potential mechanism that contributes to persistent altered growth. We have also begun evaluating the effects of maternal nutrient restriction on the development of fetal small intestine, a key facilitator of nutrient transport. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation alters development of offspring small intestine and further understanding of developmental programming in key metabolic tissues can aid in the development of nutritional strategies to improve efficiency of livestock production.

169 Vitamin and mineral supplementation to gestating beef heifers: Fetal physiology and metabolic programming

Abstract Vitamins and minerals have key roles in hormone production and action, enzyme activity, tissue synthesis, oxygen transport, and energy production. These micronutrients are efficiently transferred from the dam to the fetus during gestation to be partitioned for metabolic use and stored as postnatal mineral reserves. Maternal nutrient intake is one of the main factors that influence the availability of vitamins and minerals to the fetus. Thus, an inadequate supply of these critical nutrients can have a long-lasting impact on offspring growth and health. Evidence suggests that biological processes regulating normal growth, development, and nutrient utilization are programmed in utero, even during the earliest developmental stages. Therefore, there is a critical need to evaluate the effects of micronutrient supplementation during gestation on fetal physiology and metabolic programming. Our research group has developed research models examining the impact of maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM, supplemented vs. NoVTM, not supplemented) during the periconceptual period or throughout gestation in beef heifers. A metabolomic analysis revealed that metabolites in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were more abundant in the liver of fetuses from VTM than NoVTM dams, suggesting that a greater supply of micronutrients during the periconceptual period and first trimester of pregnancy may positively modulate mitochondrial energy metabolism in offspring. These changes in the abundance of metabolites suggested physiological adaptations to meet fetal metabolic needs. Further, high-resolution respirometry analysis revealed greater efficiency of energy utilization in small intestinal samples of neonatal calves from VTM dams. In fact, VTM offspring were heavier from weaning to breeding phase than NoVTM offspring, suggesting that maternal nutrition affects physiological mechanisms in utero that modulate offspring energetics and efficiency of nutrient utilization in the postnatal period. Furthermore, we reported increased concentrations of histidine, aspartate, and 12 out of 14 neutral amino acids in the allantoic fluid of VTM-supplemented dams. Finally, genes involved with amino acid transport in fetal liver were upregulated in response to VTM supplementation, highlighting the intricate relationship between maternal and fetal nutrition. Vitamin and mineral supplementation were also associated with changes in gene expression, biological processes and pathways in placental tissue at d 83 of gestation. We observed an upregulation of genes in the calcium signaling and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (CGMP)-PKG signaling pathways in response to micronutrient supplementation. Calcium-mediated systems may modulate cell proliferation and steroidogenic activity in bovine placentomes, while CGMP-PKG plays a key role in vascular homeostasis. Placental blood vessel vascularity at term was indeed increased in heifers supplemented throughout gestation, emphasizing the importance of micronutrient supplementation beyond early pregnancy. Altogether, our findings suggest that vitamin and mineral supplementation in the periconceptual period and during gestation play a pivotal role in fetal metabolic programming with consequences extending to the postnatal period.