Maternal antioxidant supplementation prevents adiposity in the offspring of Western diet-fed rats

Altered DNA methylation and Dnmt expression in obese uterus may cause implantation failure

Obesity is defined by increased adipose tissue volume and has become a major risk factor for reproduction. Recent studies have revealed a substantial link between obesity and epigenetics. The epigenome is dynamically regulated mainly by DNA methylation. DNA methylation, which is controlled by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), has been widely studied because it is essential for imprinting and regulation of gene expression. In our previous study, we showed that the levels of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and global DNA methylation was dramatically altered in the testis and ovary of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. However, the effect of HFD on Dnmts and global DNA methylation in mouse uterus has not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of HFD on the level of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Dnmt3l and global DNA methylation in uterus. Our results showed that HFD significantly altered the levels of Dnmts and global DNA methylation in the uterus. The total expression of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b was significantly upregulated, while level of Dnmt3l and global DNA methylation were dramatically decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed that the expression of Dnmt3b and Dnmt3l was significantly increased in endometrium including gland and epithelium (p < 0.05). Although Dnmt3b was the only protein whose expression significantly increased, the level of global DNA methylation and Dnmt3l significantly decreased in stroma and myometrium (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results show for the first time that obesity dramatically alters global DNA methylation and expression of Dnmts, and decreased DNA methylation and Dnmt expression may cause abnormal gene expression, especially in the endometrium.

Supplementation with antioxidant micronutrients in pregnant women with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Obesity increases maternal morbidity and adversely affects child health. Maternal inflammation may play a role in adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether providing a higher dose of antioxidant micronutrients to pregnant women with obesity would raise concentrations of key antioxidant vitamins and impact inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. We recruited pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 at their initial prenatal visit ( < 13 weeks gestation) and collected blood and urine samples at baseline, 24-28 weeks, and 32-36 weeks to measure micronutrient concentrations (vitamin C, E, B6 and folate), markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, 8, and 1β) and oxidative stress (8-epi-PGF2α and malondialdehyde). We collected maternal and infant health data from enrollment to delivery as secondary outcomes. We enrolled 128 participants (64 in each arm), and 98 (49 in each arm) completed follow-up through delivery.

INTERVENTION

Both groups received a standard prenatal vitamin containing the recommended daily allowance of micronutrients in pregnancy. In addition, the intervention group received a supplement with 90 mg vitamin C, 30 αTU vitamin E, 18 mg vitamin B6, and 800 μg folic acid, and the control group received a placebo.

RESULTS

The intervention group had higher vit B6 (log transformed (ln), β 24-28 weeks: 0.76 nmol/L (95% CI: 0.40, 1.12); β 32-36 weeks: 0.52 nmol/L (95% CI: 0.17, 0.88)) than the control group. Vitamins C, E, erythrocyte RBC folate concentrations did not differ by randomization group. The intervention did not impact biomarkers of inflammation or oxidative stress. There were no differences in maternal or neonatal clinical outcomes by randomization group.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher concentrations of antioxidant vitamins during pregnancy increased specific micronutrients and did not impact maternal inflammation and oxidative stress, which may be related to dosing or type of supplementation provided.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Identification Number: NCT02802566; URL of the Registration Site: www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov .

Independent and Joint Effects of Prenatal Incense-Burning Smoke Exposure and Children's Early Outdoor Activity on Preschoolers' Obesity

Incense burning is a significant source of indoor air pollution in many Asian regions. There is emerging evidence that maternal prenatal exposure to incense-burning smoke may be a risk factor for childhood obesity. We aimed to extend this new line of research by investigating the independent and joint effect of incense-burning smoke exposure, and children's outdoor activity in early life, on preschoolers' obesity. A total of 69,637 mother-child dyads were recruited from all kindergartens in the Longhua District of Shenzhen, China. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke (IBS) during pregnancy, and frequency and duration of outdoor activity at the age of 1-3 years was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, the heights and weights of the children were measured by the research team. Logistic regression models and cross-over analyses were conducted to investigate the independent and combined effects of maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke during pregnancy and children's early outdoor activity on obesity in preschoolers. We found that prenatal exposure to incense-burning smoke increased the risk of the presence of obesity in preschoolers' (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.23). Additionally, lower frequencies (<3 times/week) or shorter durations (<60 min/time) of outdoor activity from the age of 1-3 years were significantly associated with the presence of obesity, with AORs of 1.24 (95% CI =1.18-1.32) and 1.11 (95% CI = 1.05-1.17), respectively. Furthermore, the cross-over analysis showed that prenatal exposure to IBS combined with a lower frequency of early outdoor activity (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.31-1.66) or a shorter duration of outdoor activity during ages of 1-3 years (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.07-1.39) increased the risk of obesity in preschoolers. Finally, additive interactions between prenatal exposure to IBS and postnatal outdoor activity on obesity were identified. Our study indicates that maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke during pregnancy and early lower postanal outdoor activity may independently and jointly increase the risk of obesity among preschoolers.

Gestational and Developmental Contributors of Pediatric MASLD

Pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common and can be seen as early as in utero. A growing body of literature suggests that gestational and early life exposures modify the risk of MASLD development in children. These include maternal risk factors, such as poor cardiometabolic health (e.g., obesity, gestational diabetes, rapid weight gain during pregnancy, and MASLD), as well as periconceptional dietary exposures, degree of physical activity, intestinal microbiome, and smoking. Paternal factors, such as diet and obesity, also appear to play a role. Beyond gestation, early life dietary exposures, as well as the rate of infant weight gain, may further modify the risk of future MASLD development. The mechanisms linking parental health and environmental exposures to pediatric MASLD are complex and not entirely understood. In conclusion, investigating gestational and developmental contributors to MASLD is critical and may identify future interventional targets for disease prevention.

Glucocorticoids and intrauterine programming of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Accumulating epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has an intrauterine origin. Fetuses exposed to adverse prenatal environments (e.g., maternal malnutrition and xenobiotic exposure) are more susceptible to developing NAFLD after birth. Glucocorticoids are crucial triggers of the developmental programming of fetal-origin diseases. Adverse intrauterine environments often lead to fetal overexposure to maternally derived glucocorticoids, which can program fetal hepatic lipid metabolism through epigenetic modifications. Adverse intrauterine environments program the offspring's glucocorticoid-insulin-like growth factor 1 (GC-IGF1) axis, which contributes to postnatal catch-up growth and disturbs glucose and lipid metabolism. These glucocorticoid-driven programming alterations increase susceptibility to NAFLD in the offspring. Notably, after delivery, offspring often face an environment distinct from their in utero life. The mismatch between the intrauterine and postnatal environments can serve as a postnatal hit that further disturbs the programmed endocrine axes, accelerating the onset of NAFLD. In this review, we summarize the current epidemiological and experimental evidence demonstrating that NAFLD has an intrauterine origin and discuss the underlying intrauterine programming mechanisms, focusing on the role of overexposure to maternally derived glucocorticoids. We also briefly discuss potential early life interventions that may be beneficial against fetal-originated NAFLD.

Supplementation of the maternal diet with Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) prevents cognitive impairment in the offspring of obese mothers

Maternal obesity may trigger long-term neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Considering the benefits of the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.), a rich source of nutrients such as selenium, this study aimed to evaluate its effect on the behavior of obese rat offspring and its relationship with oxidative stress. From 60 days of age until weaning, female Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (mHF) or an HF diet supplemented with 5% Brazil nut (mHF/BN), while control mothers (mCTL) were fed a standard diet or a standard diet supplemented with 5% Brazil nut (mBN). Male pups received a standard diet throughout life and, at 30 and 90 days old, were subjected to behavioral tasks to evaluate anxiety and cognition. Biochemical evaluations were performed at 90 days of age. No alterations were observed in the anxiety behavior of the offspring. However, the offspring of the mHF group (oHF) exhibited impaired short-term memory at 30 and 90 days of age and impaired long-term memory at 30 days. Short-term memory impairment was prevented by Brazil nuts in young rats (30 days). While the serum selenium concentration was reduced in the oHF group, the serum catalase concentration was reduced in all groups, without changes in lipid peroxidation or protein carbonylation. Brazil nut maternal diet supplementation prevented short- and long-term cognitive impairment in the offspring, which may be related to the selenium levels.

Maternal obesity and offspring health: Adapting metabolic changes through autophagy and mitophagy

Maternal obesity leads to obstetric complications and a high prevalence of metabolic anomalies in the offspring. Among various contributing factors for maternal obesity-evoked health sequelae, developmental programming is considered as one of the leading culprit factors for maternal obesity-associated chronic comorbidities. Although a unified theory is still lacking to systematically address multiple unfavorable postnatal health sequelae, a cadre of etiological machineries have been put forward, including lipotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy/mitophagy defect, and cell death. Hereinto, autophagy and mitophagy play an essential housekeeping role in the clearance of long-lived, damaged, and unnecessary cell components to maintain and restore cellular homeostasis. Defective autophagy/mitophagy has been reported in maternal obesity and negatively impacts fetal development and postnatal health. This review will provide an update on metabolic disorders in fetal development and postnatal health issues evoked by maternal obesity and/or intrauterine overnutrition and discuss the possible contribution of autophagy/mitophagy in metabolic diseases. Moreover, relevant mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies will be discussed in an effort to target autophagy/mitophagy and metabolic disturbances in maternal obesity.

Nutriepigenomics in Environmental-Associated Oxidative Stress

Complex molecular mechanisms define our responses to environmental stimuli. Beyond the DNA sequence itself, epigenetic machinery orchestrates changes in gene expression induced by diet, physical activity, stress and pollution, among others. Importantly, nutrition has a strong impact on epigenetic players and, consequently, sustains a promising role in the regulation of cellular responses such as oxidative stress. As oxidative stress is a natural physiological process where the presence of reactive oxygen-derived species and nitrogen-derived species overcomes the uptake strategy of antioxidant defenses, it plays an essential role in epigenetic changes induced by environmental pollutants and culminates in signaling the disruption of redox control. In this review, we present an update on epigenetic mechanisms induced by environmental factors that lead to oxidative stress and potentially to pathogenesis and disease progression in humans. In addition, we introduce the microenvironment factors (physical contacts, nutrients, extracellular vesicle-mediated communication) that influence the epigenetic regulation of cellular responses. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutrients influence the epigenome, and thus global transcription, is crucial for future early diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in the field of environmental medicine.

Programming by maternal obesity: a pathway to poor cardiometabolic health in the offspring

There is an ever increasing prevalence of maternal obesity worldwide such that in many populations over half of women enter pregnancy either overweight or obese. This review aims to summarise the impact of maternal obesity on offspring cardiometabolic outcomes. Maternal obesity is associated with increased risk of adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes. However, beyond this exposure to maternal obesity during development also increases the risk of her offspring developing long-term adverse cardiometabolic outcomes throughout their adult life. Both human studies and those in experimental animal models have shown that maternal obesity can programme increased risk of offspring developing obesity and adipose tissue dysfunction; type 2 diabetes with peripheral insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction; CVD with impaired cardiac structure and function and hypertension via impaired vascular and kidney function. As female offspring themselves are therefore likely to enter pregnancy with poor cardiometabolic health this can lead to an inter-generational cycle perpetuating the transmission of poor cardiometabolic health across generations. Maternal exercise interventions have the potential to mitigate some of the adverse effects of maternal obesity on offspring health, although further studies into long-term outcomes and how these translate to a clinical context are still required.

Developmental programming by maternal obesity: Lessons from animal models

The obesity epidemic has led to more women entering pregnancy overweight or obese. In addition to adverse short-term outcomes, maternal obesity and/or gestational diabetes predispose offspring to developing obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood through developmental programming. Human epidemiological studies, although vital in identifying associations, are often unable to address causality and mechanistic studies can be limited by the lack of accessibility of key metabolic tissues. Furthermore, multi-generational studies take many years to complete. Integration of findings from human studies with those from animal models has therefore been critical in moving forward this field that has been termed the 'Developmental Origins of Health and Disease'. This review summarises the evidence from animal models and highlights how animal models provide valuable insight into the maternal factors responsible for developmental programming, potential critical developmental windows, sexual dimorphism, molecular mechanisms and age-related offspring outcomes throughout life. Moreover, we describe how animal models are vital to explore clinically relevant interventions to prevent adverse offspring outcomes in obese or glucose intolerant pregnancy, such as antioxidant supplementation, exercise and maternal metformin treatment.

The Association of Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity with Inflammatory Biomarkers and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Who Candidate for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: a Cross-sectional Study

Antioxidant compounds can attenuate inflammation and delay degenerative processes especially in the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and serum biomarkers in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In this cross-sectional study, 146 patients who had referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah were recruited and demographic, anthropometric, physical activity and dietary data were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum levels of lipid profile, inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-17, intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules [ICAM, VCAM]), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured. A regression model adjusted for confounding variables presented that the coefficients of ICAM and VCAM (ng/dL) in the third tertile of DTAC were lower than those in the first tertile (β = -417.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -509.9 to -324.5, p < 0.001; β = -293.2, 95% CI = -334.3, -252.1, p < 0.001, respectively). The β of serum TAC (ng/dL) in the third tertile was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.77, 0.95, p < 0.001) higher than that in the first tertile. DTAC had no statistically significant relationship with lipid profile, FBG, and IL-17 levels, and anthropometric indices. In this study DTAC was associated with increased serum TAC and decreased cell adhesion molecules. Therefore, diet antioxidants may be beneficial in attenuating of inflammation in coronary artery diseases.

Effects of Maternal Obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Placenta: Current Knowledge and Targets for Therapeutic Interventions

Obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are becoming more common among pregnant women worldwide and are individually associated with a number of placenta-mediated obstetric complications, including preeclampsia, macrosomia, intrauterine growth restriction and stillbirth. The placenta serves several functions throughout pregnancy and is the main exchange site for the transfer of nutrients and gas from mother to fetus. In pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity or GDM, the placenta is exposed to environmental changes, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered hormone levels. These changes can affect placental development and function and lead to abnormal fetal growth and development as well as metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in the offspring. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the effects of obesity and GDM on placental development and function. Understanding these processes is key in developing therapeutic interventions with the goal of mitigating these effects and preventing future cardiovascular and metabolic pathology in subsequent generations.

Maternal diet in pregnancy is associated with differences in child body mass index trajectories from birth to adolescence

BACKGROUND

Nutrition in pregnancy and accelerated childhood growth are important predictors of obesity risk. Yet, it is unknown which dietary patterns in pregnancy are associated with accelerated growth and whether there are specific periods from birth to adolescence that are most sensitive to these associations.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the extent to which 3 dietary indices in pregnancy [Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), Alternate Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P), and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS)] are associated with child BMI z-score (BMI-z) trajectories from birth to adolescence.

METHODS

We examined 1459 mother-child dyads from Project Viva that had FFQ data in pregnancy and ≥3 child BMI-z measurements between birth and adolescence. We used linear spline mixed-effects models to examine whether BMI-z growth rates and BMI z-scores differed by quartile of each dietary index from birth to 1 mo, 1-6 mo, 6 mo to 3 y, 3-10 y, and >10 y.

RESULTS

The means ± SDs for DII (range, -9 to +8 units), AHEI-P (range, 0-90 points), and MDS (range, 0-9 points) were -2.6 ± 1.4 units, 61 ± 10 points, and 4.6 ± 2.0 points, respectively. In adjusted models, children of women in the highest (vs. lowest) DII quartile had higher BMI-z growth rates between 3-10 y (β, 0.03 SD units/y; 95% CI: 0.00-0.06) and higher BMI z-scores from 7 y through 10 y. Children of women with low adherence to a Mediterranean diet had higher BMI z-scores from 3 y through 15 y. Associations of AHEI-P with growth rates and BMI z-scores from birth through adolescence were null.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher DII and a lower MDS in pregnancy, but not AHEI-P results, are associated with higher BMI-z trajectories during distinct growth periods from birth through adolescence. Identifying the specific dietary patterns in pregnancy associated with rapid weight gain in children could inform strategies to reduce child obesity.

Understanding the Link Between Maternal Overnutrition, Cardio-Metabolic Dysfunction and Cognitive Aging

Obesity has long been identified as a global epidemic with major health implications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Maternal overnutrition leads to significant health issues in industrial countries and is one of the risk factors for the development of obesity and related disorders in the progeny. The wide accessibility of junk food in recent years is one of the major causes of obesity, as it is low in nutrient content and usually high in salt, sugar, fat, and calories. An excess of nutrients during fetal life not only has immediate effects on the fetus, including increased growth and fat deposition in utero, but also has long-term health consequences. Based on human studies, it is difficult to discern between genetic and environmental contributions to the risk of disease in future generations. Consequently, animal models are essential for studying the impact of maternal overnutrition on the developing offspring. Recently, animal models provided some insight into the physiological mechanisms that underlie developmental programming. Most of the studies employed thus far have focused only on obesity and metabolic dysfunctions in the offspring. These studies have advanced our understanding of how maternal overnutrition in the form of high-fat diet exposure can lead to an increased risk of obesity in the offspring, but many questions remain open. How maternal overnutrition may increase the risk of developing brain pathology such as cognitive disabilities in the offspring and increase the risk to develop metabolic disorders later in life? Further, does maternal overnutrition exacerbate cognitive- and cardio-metabolic aging in the offspring?

Maternal dietary quality, inflammatory potential and childhood adiposity: an individual participant data pooled analysis of seven European cohorts in the ALPHABET consortium

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence suggests that maternal diet influences pregnancy and birth outcomes, but its contribution to the global epidemic of childhood obesity has not as yet been definitively characterized. We investigated whether maternal whole diet quality and inflammatory potential influence childhood adiposity.

METHODS

We harmonized and pooled individual participant data from 16,295 mother-child pairs in seven European birth cohorts. Maternal pre-, early-, late-, and whole-pregnancy (any time during pregnancy) dietary quality and inflammatory potential assessed with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) score, respectively. Primary outcome was childhood overweight and obesity (OWOB) (age-and-sex-specific BMI z-score > 85th percentile). Secondary outcomes were sum of skinfold thickness (SST), fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). We used multivariable regression analyses (adjusting for maternal lifestyle and sociodemographic factors) to assess the associations of maternal DASH and E-DII scores with offspring adiposity outcomes in cohort-specific analyses, with subsequent random-effect meta-analyses.

RESULTS

The study mothers had a mean (SD) age of 30.2 (4.6) years and a mean BMI of 23.4 (4.2) kg/m2. Higher early-pregnancy E-DII scores (more pro-inflammatory diet) tended to be associated with a higher odds of late-childhood [10.6 (1.2) years] OWOB [OR (95% CI) 1.09 (1.00, 1.19) per 1-SD E-DII score increase], whereas an inverse association was observed for late-pregnancy E-DII score and early-childhood [2.8 (0.3) years] OWOB [0.91 (0.83, 1.00)]. Higher maternal whole pregnancy DASH score (higher dietary quality) was associated with a lower odds of late-childhood OWOB [OR (95% CI) 0.92 (0.87, 0.98) per 1-SD DASH score increase]; associations were of similar magnitude for early and late-pregnancy [0.86 (0.72, 1.04) and 0.91 (0.85, 0.98), respectively]. These associations were robust in several sensitivity analyses and further adjustment for birth weight and childhood diet did not meaningfully alter the associations and conclusions. In two cohorts with available data, a higher whole pregnancy E-DII and lower DASH scores were associated with a lower late-childhood FFMI in males and a higher mid-childhood FMI in females (P interactions < 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

A pro-inflammatory, low-quality maternal antenatal diet may adversely influence offspring body composition and OWOB risk, especially during late-childhood. Promoting an overall healthy and anti-inflammatory maternal dietary pattern may contribute to the prevention of childhood obesity, a complex health issue requiring multifaceted strategy.

Role of Dietary Amino Acids and Nutrient Sensing System in Pregnancy Associated Disorders

Defective implantation is related to pregnancy-associated disorders such as spontaneous miscarriage, intrauterine fetal growth restriction and others. Several factors proclaimed to be involved such as physiological, nutritional, environmental and managemental that leads to cause oxidative stress. Overloading of free radicals promotes oxidative stress, and the internal body system could not combat its ability to encounter the damaging effects and subsequently leading to pregnancy-related disorders. During pregnancy, essential amino acids display important role for optimum fetal growth and other necessary functions for continuing fruitful pregnancy. In this context, dietary amino acids have received much attention regarding the nutritional concerns during pregnancy. Arginine, glutamine, tryptophan and taurine play a crucial role in fetal growth, development and survival while ornithine and proline are important players for the regulation of gene expression, protein synthesis and angiogenesis. Moreover, amino acids also stimulate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway which plays a central role in the synthesis of proteins in placenta, uterus and fetus. This review article explores the significances of dietary amino acids in pregnancy development, regulation of nutrient-sensing pathways such as mTOR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS) and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which exhibit important role in reproduction and its related problems. In addition, the antioxidant function of dietary amino acids against oxidative stress triggering pregnancy disorders and their possible outcomes will also be enlightened. Dietary supplementation of amino acids during pregnancy could help mitigate reproductive disorders and thereby improving fertility in animals as well as humans.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC), general and central obesity indices and serum lipids among adults: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: In the present meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC), general and central obesity indices and lipid profile in adult population. Methods: The electronic databases of Web of Sciences, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library were searched for relevant studies from inception to October 2019. The effect size was indicated as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) by using random effects model. The I² index and Cochran's Q-test were used for evaluating heterogeneity. Results: From 2,469 studies identified, thirty-four studies (nineteen cross-sectional studies, thirteen cohort studies, two case-control studies) were included in the meta-analysis. According to our results, higher categories of TAC were associated with significantly lower serum triglyceride concentartions (TG; WMD: -7.58; CI: -11.42, -3.75; P < 0.001) and waist circumference (WC; WMD: -1.17; 95% CI: -1.47, -0.87; P < 0.001); while no significant change in body mass index (BMI; WMD: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.35, 0.01; P = 0.12), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; WMD: 0.61; 95% CI: -0.16, 1.40; P = 0.12), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; WMD: 1.34; 95% CI: -0.61, 3.30; P = 0.17) and total cholesterol (TC; WMD: 1.19; 95% CI: -1.46, 3.855; P = 0.37) was reported. Conclusion: Higher dietary TAC was related to reduced prevalence of central obesity, reduced WC and TG concentrations in the current meta-analysis. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed that TAC measurement index, geographical area, dietary assessment tool, health status and gender were potential sources of heterogeneity.

The interaction between dietary Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC) with variants of Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) 18q21.23-rs17782313 locus on hypothalamic hormones and cardio-metabolic risk factors in obese individuals from Iran

Background: In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the interaction between dietary Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC) and rs17782313 polymorphism on hypothalamic hormones and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Methods: A total of 287 subjects (aged 20-50 years, 147 males and 140 females) enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Dietary NEAC was assessed using databases of NEAC measurements compiled from outcomes for three different analyses: oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP), and total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and genotyping for the near MC4R rs17782313 was carried out by Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: The significant interactions were found between adherence to the dietary NEAC and MC4R rs17782313 in relation to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), glucose, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), insulin and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (P _Interaction = 0.03, 0.01, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04, respectively). In homozygous subjects for the minor allele, the serum insulin level and QUICKI in participants with the highest adherence to TRAP were significantly higher than those with the lowest adherence (p < 0.001). There was a significant inverse association between high ORAC score and risk of metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for potential confounders (OR: 0.33; 95%CI:0.13-0.81) and also a significant inverse association between high NEAC (ORAC, FRAP and TRAP assays) score and high triglyceride (TG) level was found in obese adults. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study found for the first time that the NEAC significantly interacts with the rs17782313 genotypes to influence several metabolic risk factors in obesity.

Developmental programming of insulin resistance: are androgens the culprits?

Insulin resistance is a common feature of many metabolic disorders. The dramatic rise in the incidence of insulin resistance over the past decade has enhanced focus on its developmental origins. Since various developmental insults ranging from maternal disease, stress, over/undernutrition, and exposure to environmental chemicals can all program the development of insulin resistance, common mechanisms may be involved. This review discusses the possibility that increases in maternal androgens associated with these various insults are key mediators in programming insulin resistance. Additionally, the intermediaries through which androgens misprogram tissue insulin sensitivity, such as changes in inflammatory, oxidative, and lipotoxic states, epigenetic, gut microbiome and insulin, as well as data gaps to be filled are also discussed.

Serum Microelements in Early Pregnancy and their Risk of Large-for-Gestational Age Birth Weight

Excessive birth weight has serious perinatal consequences, and it “programs” long-term health. Mother’s nutritional status can be an important element in fetal “programming”; microelements such as selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) are involved in many metabolic processes. However, there are no studies assessing the relationship of the microelements in the peri-conceptual period with the risk of excessive birth weight. We performed a nested case control study of serum microelements’ levels in the 10–14th week of pregnancy and assessed the risk of large-for-gestational age (LGA) newborns using the data from a prospective cohort of pregnant women recruited in 2015–2016 in Poznań, Poland. Mothers delivering LGA newborns (n = 66) were examined with matched mothers delivering appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) newborns (n = 264). Microelements’ levels were quantified using mass spectrometry. The odds ratios of LGA (and 95% confidence intervals) were calculated by multivariate logistic regression. In the whole group, women with the lowest quartile of Se had a 3 times higher LGA risk compared with women in the highest Se quartile (AOR = 3.00; p = 0.013). Importantly, the result was sustained in the subgroup of women with the normal pre-pregnancy BMI (AOR = 4.79; p = 0.033) and in women with a male fetus (AOR = 6.28; p = 0.004), but it was not sustained in women with a female fetus. There were no statistical associations between Zn, Cu, and Fe levels and LGA. Our study provides some preliminary evidence for the relationships between lower serum Se levels in early pregnancy and a higher risk of large-for-gestational age birth weight. Appropriate Se intake in the periconceptual period may be important for optimal fetal growth.

Symposium review: Late-gestation maternal factors affecting the health and development of dairy calves

Efficient production of heifers is fundamental to the productivity and sustainability of dairy farms. However, high preweaning morbidity and mortality rates are frequently reported worldwide, imposing substantial welfare and economic implications. A major contributing factor to disease susceptibility in the neonatal stage is the inability of calves to mount an effective immune response. Appreciation is now greater that exposure in utero to several stresses (nutritional, social, metabolic, and so on) during the last stages of pregnancy have downstream carryover effects in calves' health, growth, and development. Suboptimal intrauterine conditions during critical periods of development lead to changes in tissue structure and function that may have long-term consequences on the offspring's physiology and disease susceptibility. Indeed, preweaning metabolic function and growth are associated with future milk production. Thus, late-gestation carryover effects span into the lactating stage of the heifers. Nevertheless, researchers have been studying how to minimize these effects. This review will discuss the effects of maternal stress during late gestation on the offspring's growth, productivity, metabolism, and health. In addition, strategies focusing on maternal interventions that improve neonatal health will be discussed. A better understanding of the intrauterine conditions affecting calf health and growth may facilitate the design of management practices that could improve neonatal development and future cow productivity.

Preconception Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Health in the Offspring of Overweight and Obese Women

Women’s lifestyle has important implications for the development and health of their offspring. Yet little is known about the association between women’s preconception dietary intake and physical activity with cardiovascular health of the offspring. We therefore examined this association in a group of Dutch women with overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 29 kg/m²) and infertility, who participated in a 6-month randomized preconception lifestyle intervention trial, and their offspring (n = 46). Preconception dietary intake and physical activity were assessed during the 6-month intervention using a food frequency questionnaire and the Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH), respectively. Offspring cardiovascular health (i.e., BMI, waist:height ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fat and fat free mass, and pulse wave velocity) was measured at age 3–6 years. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between preconception lifestyle and offspring cardiovascular health. Higher preconception vegetable intake (per 10 g/day) was associated with lower offspring diastolic blood pressure (Z-score: −0.05 (−0.08; −0.01); p = 0.007) and higher preconception fruit intake (per 10 g/day) was associated with lower offspring pulse wave velocity (−0.05 m/s (−0.10; −0.01); p = 0.03). Against our expectations, higher preconception intake of sugary drinks was associated with a higher offspring fat free mass (0.54 kg (0.01; 1.07); p = 0.045). To conclude, preconception dietary intake is associated with offspring health.

Association of dietary total antioxidant capacity to anthropometry in healthy women: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Reactive oxygen species level is a fundamental component in the pathogenesis of obesity that might be reduced by dietary antioxidants. Measurement of dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) is regarded as a new holistic dietary index. Given the limited research on DTAC, the aim of this study was to examine the association of DTAC with obesity-related features in women.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study included 627 female participants. Data on dietary intake were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. DTAC was estimated through total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Anthropometric parameters (body mass index and waist circumference), were investigated using standard methods.

RESULTS

After adjustment for possible covariates, both TRAP and TEAC were significantly positively associated with obesity (TRAP: OR, 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-2.63; P_trend, 0.03; TEAC: OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.01-2.63; P_trend, 0.04). However, there was no association between FRAP and obesity (OR_, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.64-1.93; P_trend, 0.68). Moreover, no relationship was found between different DTAC indices and waist circumference (TRAP: OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.70-1.80; P_trend, 0.60; TEAC: OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.64-1.69; P_trend, 0.87; FRAP: OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.49-1.51; P_trend, 0.62).

CONCLUSION

Women with higher DTAC scores had higher risk for obesity. No association was found between DTAC and waist circumference.

Systematic review: Impact of resveratrol exposure during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes in animal models of human pregnancy complications-Are we ready for the clinic?

Resveratrol (RSV) has been reported to have potential beneficial effects in the complicated pregnancy. Various pregnancy complications lead to a suboptimal in utero environment that impacts fetal growth during critical windows of development. Detrimental structural changes to key organ systems in utero persist into adult life and predispose offspring to an increased risk of chronic non-communicable metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effect of gestational RSV exposure on both maternal and fetal outcomes. Publicly available databases (n = 8) were searched for original studies reporting maternal and/or fetal outcomes after RSV exposure during pregnancy irrespective of species. Of the 115 studies screened, 31 studies were included in this review. RSV exposure occurred for different durations across a range of species (Rats n = 18, Mice n = 7, Japanese Macaques n = 3 and Sheep n = 3), models of complicated pregnancy (eg. maternal dietary manipulations, gestational diabetes, maternal hypoxia, teratogen exposure, etc.), dosages and administration routes. Maternal and fetal outcomes differed not only based on the model of complicated pregnancy assessed but also as a result of species. Given the heterogenic nature of these studies, further investigation assessing RSV exposure during the complicated pregnancy is warranted. In order to make an informed decision regarding the use of RSV to intervene in pregnancy complications, we suggest a minimum data set for consideration in future studies.

Does pomegranate consumption affect weight and body composition? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

Pomegranate is rich in tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and several other types of antioxidant compounds whose role in weight loss has been shown in previous studies. However, the results have been mixed regarding the effects of pomegranate consumption on weight loss. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched up to May 2018 for controlled clinical trials assessing the effect of pomegranate consumption on weight loss. A random effects model was used to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) as the difference between the mean for the intervention and control groups. Thirteen randomized controlled trials (including 513 participants) were included in the present meta-analysis. Compared with the control groups, there was no significant reduction in bodyweight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage after pomegranate consumption (WMD = -0.23 kg, 95% CI: -0.94, 0.47, P = 0.515; WMD = -0.12 kg/m² , 95% CI: -0.29, 0.03, P = 0.132; WMD = -0.08 cm, 95% CI: -0.33, 0.17, P = 0.534; WMD = -0.05, 95% CI: -1.66, 1.55, P = 0.947, respectively). According to the results of the present systematic review and meta-analysis, there was no significant effect of pomegranate consumption on weight and body composition indices.

Higher dietary magnesium intake is associated with lower body mass index, waist circumference and serum glucose in Mexican adults

BACKGROUND

Obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are public health concerns in Mexico of top-level priority due to their high prevalence and their growth rate in recent decades. The accumulation of adipose tissue leads to an unbalanced release of pro-oxidant factors, which causes cellular damage and favors the development of comorbidities. Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress also promotes the accumulation of adipose tissue and the development of insulin resistance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between usual intake of antioxidant nutrients, specifically vitamins A, C, E and magnesium with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and serum glucose concentrations in a representative sample of Mexican adults.

METHODOLOGY

We analyzed data on diet, BMI, WC and serum glucose from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. Analysis included 20- to 65-year-old adults without a known diagnosis of DM (n = 1573). Dietary information was obtained using the five-step multiple-pass method developed by the United States Department of Agriculture and adapted to the Mexican context. Nutrient usual intake distributions were estimated using the Iowa State University method, through the "Software for Intake Distribution Estimation" (PC-Side) v.1.02. Associations were analyzed using multivariate regression models.

RESULTS

Higher dietary magnesium intake was associated with lower markers of adiposity, so that an increase in 10 mg per 1000 kcal/day of magnesium was associated with an average decrease in BMI of 0.72% (95% CI: -1.36, - 0.08) and 0.49 cm (95% CI: -0.92, - 0.07) of WC. Additionally, in women with normal glucose concentrations, an increase in magnesium intake was associated with an average decrease in serum glucose by 0.59% (95% CI: -1.08, - 0.09).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that magnesium intake is associated with lower BMI, WC and serum glucose in Mexican population. However, more studies are required to elucidate the nature of this association.

Different Statistical Approaches to Characterization of Adipocyte Size in Offspring of Obese Rats: Effects of Maternal or Offspring Exercise Intervention

Adipocyte size (AS) shows asymmetric distribution related to current metabolic state, e.g., adipogenesis or lipolysis. We profiled AS distribution using different statistical approaches in offspring (F1) of control (C) and obese (MO) mothers (F0) with and without F0 or F1 exercise. Offspring from F0 exercise were designated CF0ex and MOF0ex. Exercised F1 of sedentary mothers were designated CF1ex and MOF1ex. F1 retroperitoneal fat cross-sectional AS was measured by median, cumulative distributions, data dispersion and extreme values based on gamma distribution modeling. F1 metabolic parameters: body weight, retroperitoneal fat, adiposity index (AI), serum leptin, triglycerides (TG) and insulin resistance index (IRI) were measured. Male and female F1 AS showed different cumulative distribution between C and MO (p < 0.0001) therefore comparisons were performed among C, CF0ex and CF1ex groups and MO, MOF0ex and MOF1ex groups. MO AI was higher than C (p < 0.05) and male MOF1ex AI lower than MO (p < 0.05). Median AS was higher in male and female MO vs. C (p < 0.05). Male and female MOF0ex and MOF1ex reduced median AS (p < 0.05). Lower AS dispersion was observed in male CF1ex and MOF1ex vs. CF0ex and MOF0ex, respectively. MO reduced small and increased large adipocyte proportions vs. C (p < 0.05); MOF0ex increased small and MOF1ex the proportion of large adipocytes vs. MO (p < 0.05). MOF0ex reduced male IRI and female TG vs. MO (p < 0.05). MOF1ex reduced male and female leptin (p < 0.05); CF1ex reduced male leptin (p < 0.05). Conclusions: several factors, diet, physical activity and gender modify AS distribution. Conventional AS distribution methods normally do not include analyzes of extreme, large and small adipocytes, which characterize different phenotypes. Maternal high fat diet affects F1 AS distribution, which was programmed during development. F0ex and F1ex have gender specific F1 beneficial effects. AS distribution characterization helps explain adipose tissue metabolic changes in different physiological conditions and will aid design of efficacious interventions to prevent and/or recuperate adverse developmental programming outcomes. Finally, precise identification of effects of specific interventions as exercise of F0 and/or F1 are needed to improve outcomes in obese women and their obesity prone offspring.

Protein expression in submandibular glands of young rats is modified by a high-fat/high-sugar maternal diet

OBJECTIVE

Maternal diet has consequences on many organs of the offspring, but salivary glands have received little attention despite the importance of the saliva secretory function in oral health and control of food intake. The objective of this work was therefore to document in rats the impact of maternal high-fat/high-sugar diet (Western Diet) on submandibular glands of the progeny.

DESIGN

Sprague-Dawley rat dams were fed either a Western diet or control diet during gestation and lactation and their pups were sacrificed 25 days after birth. The pups' submandibular gland protein content was characterized by means of 2D-electrophoresis followed by LC-MS/MS. Data were further analyzed by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and protein-protein interactions mapping. The expression of two specific proteins was also evaluated using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Combining both male and female pups (n = 18), proteome analysis revealed that proteins involved in protein quality control (e.g. heat shock proteins, proteasome sub-units) and microtubule proteins were over-expressed in Western diet conditions, which may translate intense metabolic activity. A cluster of proteins controlling oxidative stress (e.g. Glutathione peroxidases, peroxiredoxin) and enhancement of the antioxidant activity molecular function were also characteristic of maternal Western diet as well as under-expression of annexin A5. The down-regulating effect of maternal Western diet on Annexin A5 expression was significant only for males (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A maternal Western diet modifies the protein composition of the offspring's salivary glands, which may have consequences on the salivary function.

Prenatal Steroids and Metabolic Dysfunction: Lessons from Sheep

Prenatal exposure to excess steroids or steroid mimics can disrupt the normal developmental trajectory of organ systems, culminating in adult disease. The metabolic system is particularly susceptible to the deleterious effects of prenatal steroid excess. Studies in sheep demonstrate that prenatal exposure to excess native steroids or endocrine-disrupting chemicals with steroidogenic activity, such as bisphenol A, results in postnatal development of numerous cardiometabolic perturbations, including insulin resistance, increased adiposity, altered adipocyte size and distribution, and hypertension. The similarities in the phenotypic outcomes programmed by these different prenatal insults suggest that common mechanisms may be involved, and these may include hormonal imbalances (e.g., hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia), oxidative stress, inflammation, lipotoxicity, and epigenetic alterations. Animal models, including the sheep, provide mechanistic insight into the metabolic repercussions associated with prenatal steroid exposure and represent valuable research tools in understanding human health and disease. Focusing on the sheep model, this review summarizes the cardiometabolic perturbations programmed by prenatal exposure to different native steroids and steroid mimics and discusses the potential mechanisms underlying the development of adverse outcomes.

Diet-induced obesity alters the maternal metabolome and early placenta transcriptome and decreases placenta vascularity in the mouse

Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic disease in offspring. Increasing evidence suggests that the placenta plays an active role in fetal programming. In this study, we used a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to demonstrate that the abnormal metabolic milieu of maternal obesity sets the stage very early in pregnancy by altering the transcriptome of placenta progenitor cells in the preimplantation (trophectoderm [TE]) and early postimplantation (ectoplacental cone [EPC]) placenta precursors, which is associated with later changes in placenta development and function. Sphingolipid metabolism was markedly altered in the plasma of obese dams very early in pregnancy as was expression of genes related to sphingolipid processing in the early placenta. Upregulation of these pathways inhibits angiogenesis and causes endothelial dysfunction. The expression of many other genes related to angiogenesis and vascular development were disrupted in the TE and EPC. Other key changes in the maternal metabolome in obese dams that are likely to influence placenta and fetal development include a marked decrease in myo and chiro-inositol. These early metabolic and gene expression changes may contribute to phenotypic changes in the placenta, as we found that exposure to a high-fat diet decreased placenta microvessel density at both mid and late gestation. This is the first study to demonstrate that maternal obesity alters the transcriptome at the earliest stages of murine placenta development.

Epigenetic control of variation and stochasticity in metabolic disease

BACKGROUND

The alarming rise of obesity and its associated comorbidities represents a medical burden and a major global health and economic issue. Understanding etiological mechanisms underpinning susceptibility and therapeutic response is of primary importance. Obesity, diabetes, and metabolic diseases are complex trait disorders with only partial genetic heritability, indicating important roles for environmental programing and epigenetic effects.

SCOPE OF THE REVIEW

We will highlight some of the reasons for the scarce predictability of metabolic diseases. We will outline how genetic variants generate phenotypic variation in disease susceptibility across populations. We will then focus on recent conclusions about epigenetic mechanisms playing a fundamental role in increasing variability and subsequently disease triggering.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Currently, we are unable to predict or mechanistically define how "missing heritability" drives disease. Unravelling this black box of regulatory processes will allow us to move towards a truly personalized and precision medicine.

Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

OBJECTIVE

Measurement of dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) is considered a new holistic dietary approach and assesses total antioxidants present in the overall diet. Our aim was to perform a comprehensive review of the literature on the association between DTAC and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were used to conduct a comprehensive search for articles published on this topic through September 2017. There was no limit on earliest year of publication. The search was based on the following keywords: dietary total antioxidant capacity, nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity, total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter, ferric reducing ability of plasma, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), waist circumference (WC), insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin, obesity, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood pressure (BP), and body mass index. In total, 16 papers were identified for inclusion in the present systematic review.

RESULTS

Most well-designed studies that evaluated associations between DTAC and CVD risk factors showed inverse associations for fasting blood glucose, CRP, BP, and WC and positive associations for HDL-C. However, there was no association between DTAC and LDL-C or TC in any of the studies. Results regarding the association of DTAC with insulin, HOMA-IR, high-sensitivity CRP, and TG in the published literature were inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicated a substantial association between high DTAC and most CVD-related risk factors.

Therapies for gestational diabetes and their implications for maternal and offspring health: Evidence from human and animal studies

Obesity prior to and during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of complications during pregnancy. One of the most common complications of pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a condition characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance that is diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. GDM predisposes both mothers and their children to increased obesity and cardiometabolic disorders, namely type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Current treatments include lifestyle changes and insulin injections, but oral anti-diabetic drugs such as metformin and glyburide are increasingly prescribed as they do not require injections. However, the long-term implications of therapies for diabetes during pregnancy on mothers and their offspring are not fully understood. In this review, we describe current treatments for GDM, including the first line lifestyle interventions such as exercise as well as insulin, glyburides and metformin. We also review selected natural health products that are sometimes used by individuals during pregnancy that could also be an effective therapeutic in pregnancies characterized by obesity or GDM. We focus on both the short- and long-term effects of treatments on the health of mothers and their offspring. We review the current literature from clinical research and animal studies.

Nutritional Programming Effects on Development of Metabolic Disorders in Later Life

Developmental programming resulting from maternal malnutrition can lead to an increased risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders in the offspring in later life. Furthermore, many conditions linked with developmental programming are also known to be associated with the aging process. This review summarizes the available evidence about the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, with the potential to identify novel areas of therapeutic intervention. This could also lead to the discovery of new treatment options for improved patient outcomes.

Early nutrition and ageing: can we intervene?

Ageing, a complex process that results in progressive decline in intrinsic physiological function leading to an increase in mortality rate, has been shown to be affected by early life nutrition. Accumulating data from animal and epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to a suboptimal nutritional environment during fetal life can have long-term effects on adult health. In this paper, we discuss the impact of early life nutrition on the development of age-associated diseases and life span. Special emphasis is given to studies that have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. These include permanent structural and cellular changes including epigenetics modifications, oxidative stress, DNA damage and telomere shortening. Potential strategies targeting these mechanisms, in order to prevent or alleviate the detrimental effects of suboptimal early nutrition on lifespan and age-related diseases, are also discussed. Although recent reports have already identified effective therapeutic interventions, such as antioxidant supplementation, further understanding of the extent and nature of how early nutrition influences the ageing process will enable the development of novel and more effective approaches to improve health and extend human lifespan in the future.

Nutrition in early life and age-associated diseases

The prevalence of age-associated disease is increasing at a striking rate globally. It is known that a strong association exists between a suboptimal maternal and/or early-life environment and increased propensity of developing age-associated disease, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. The dissection of underlying molecular mechanisms to explain this phenomenon, which is known as 'developmental programming' is still emerging; however three common mechanisms have emerged in many models of developmental programming. These mechanisms are (a) changes in tissue structure, (b) epigenetic regulation and (c) accelerated cellular ageing. This review will examine the epidemiological evidence and the animal models of suboptimal maternal environments, focusing upon these molecular mechanisms and will discuss the progress being made in the development of safe and effective intervention strategies which ultimately could target those 'programmed' individuals who are known to be at-risk of age-associated disease.

Correlation between Oxidative Stress, Nutrition, and Cancer Initiation

Inadequate or excessive nutrient consumption leads to oxidative stress, which may disrupt oxidative homeostasis, activate a cascade of molecular pathways, and alter the metabolic status of various tissues. Several foods and consumption patterns have been associated with various cancers and approximately 30-35% of the cancer cases are correlated with overnutrition or malnutrition. However, several contradictory studies are available regarding the association between diet and cancer risk, which remains to be elucidated. Concurrently, oxidative stress is a crucial factor for cancer progression and therapy. Nutritional oxidative stress may be induced by an imbalance between antioxidant defense and pro-oxidant load due to inadequate or excess nutrient supply. Oxidative stress is a physiological state where high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals are generated. Several signaling pathways associated with carcinogenesis can additionally control ROS generation and regulate ROS downstream mechanisms, which could have potential implications in anticancer research. Cancer initiation may be modulated by the nutrition-mediated elevation in ROS levels, which can stimulate cancer initiation by triggering DNA mutations, damage, and pro-oncogenic signaling. Therefore, in this review, we have provided an overview of the relationship between nutrition, oxidative stress, and cancer initiation, and evaluated the impact of nutrient-mediated regulation of antioxidant capability against cancer therapy.

Developmental origins of NAFLD: a womb with a clue

Changes in the maternal environment leading to an altered intrauterine milieu can result in subtle insults to the fetus, promoting increased lifetime disease risk and/or disease acceleration in childhood and later in life. Particularly worrisome is that the prevalence of NAFLD is rapidly increasing among children and adults, and is being diagnosed at increasingly younger ages, pointing towards an early-life origin. A wealth of evidence, in humans and non-human primates, suggests that maternal nutrition affects the placenta and fetal tissues, leading to persistent changes in hepatic metabolism, mitochondrial function, the intestinal microbiota, liver macrophage activation and susceptibility to NASH postnatally. Deleterious exposures in utero include fetal hypoxia, increased nutrient supply, inflammation and altered gut microbiota that might produce metabolic clues, including fatty acids, metabolites, endotoxins, bile acids and cytokines, which prime the infant liver for NAFLD in a persistent manner and increase susceptibility to NASH. Mechanistic links to early disease pathways might involve shifts in lipid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, pioneering gut microorganisms, macrophage programming and epigenetic changes that alter the liver microenvironment, favouring liver injury. In this Review, we discuss how maternal, fetal, neonatal and infant exposures provide developmental clues and mechanisms to help explain NAFLD acceleration and increased disease prevalence. Mechanisms identified in clinical and preclinical models suggest important opportunities for prevention and intervention that could slow down the growing epidemic of NAFLD in the next generation.

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Nutrition as a mediator of oxidative stress in metabolic and reproductive disorders in women

Nutrition can generate oxidative stress and trigger a cascade of molecular events that can disrupt oxidative and hormonal balance. Nutrient ingestion promotes a major inflammatory and oxidative response at the cellular level in the postprandial state, altering the metabolic state of tissues. A domino of unfavorable metabolic changes is orchestrated in the main metabolic organs, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas, where subclinical inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, mitochondrial deregulation and impaired insulin response and secretion take place. Simultaneously, in reproductive tissues, nutrition-induced oxidative stress can potentially violate delicate oxidative balance that is mandatory to secure normal reproductive function. Taken all the above into account, nutrition and its accompanying postprandial oxidative stress, in the unique context of female hormonal background, can potentially compromise normal metabolic and reproductive functions in women and may act as an active mediator of various metabolic and reproductive disorders.

Early PQQ supplementation has persistent long-term protective effects on developmental programming of hepatic lipotoxicity and inflammation in obese mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is widespread in adults and children. Early exposure to maternal obesity or Western-style diet (WD) increases steatosis and oxidative stress in fetal liver and is associated with lifetime disease risk in the offspring. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a natural antioxidant found in soil, enriched in human breast milk, and essential for development in mammals. We investigated whether a supplemental dose of PQQ, provided prenatally in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity during pregnancy, could protect obese offspring from progression of NAFLD. PQQ treatment given pre- and postnatally in WD-fed offspring had no effect on weight gain but increased metabolic flexibility while reducing body fat and liver lipids, compared with untreated obese offspring. Indices of NAFLD, including hepatic ceramide levels, oxidative stress, and expression of proinflammatory genes (Nos2, Nlrp3, Il6, and Ptgs2), were decreased in WD PQQ-fed mice, concomitant with increased expression of fatty acid oxidation genes and decreased Pparg expression. Notably, these changes persisted even after PQQ withdrawal at weaning. Our results suggest that supplementation with PQQ, particularly during pregnancy and lactation, protects offspring from WD-induced developmental programming of hepatic lipotoxicity and may help slow the advancing epidemic of NAFLD in the next generation.-Jonscher, K. R., Stewart, M. S., Alfonso-Garcia, A., DeFelice, B. C., Wang, X. X., Luo, Y., Levi, M., Heerwagen, M. J. R., Janssen, R. C., de la Houssaye, B. A., Wiitala, E., Florey, G., Jonscher, R. L., Potma, E. O., Fiehn, O. Friedman, J. E. Early PQQ supplementation has persistent long-term protective effects on developmental programming of hepatic lipotoxicity and inflammation in obese mice.

Associations of Maternal Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy with Offspring Adiposity from Birth Until 54 Months of Age

Most studies linking maternal diet with offspring adiposity have focused on single nutrients or foods, but a dietary pattern approach is more representative of the overall diet. We thus aimed to investigate the relations between maternal dietary patterns and offspring adiposity in a multi-ethnic Asian mother–offspring cohort in Singapore. We derived maternal dietary patterns using maternal dietary intake information at 26–28 weeks of gestation, of which associations with offspring body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), subscapular skinfold (SS), and triceps skinfold (TS) were assessed using longitudinal data analysis (linear mixed effects (LME)) and multiple linear regression at ages 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 months. Three dietary patterns were derived: (1) vegetables-fruit-and-white rice (VFR); (2) seafood-and-noodles (SfN); and (3) pasta-cheese-and-bread (PCB). In the LME model adjusting for potential confounders, each standard deviation (SD) increase in maternal VFR pattern score was associated with 0.09 mm lower offspring TS. Individual time-point analysis additionally revealed that higher VFR score was generally associated with lower postnatal offspring BMI z-score, TS, SS, and sum of skinfolds (SS + TS) at ages 18 months and older. Maternal adherence to a dietary pattern characterized by higher intakes of fruit and vegetables and lower intakes of fast food was associated with lower offspring adiposity.

Advanced aging phenotype is revealed by epigenetic modifications in rat liver after in utero malnutrition

Adverse environmental exposures of mothers during fetal period predispose offspring to a range of age-related diseases earlier in life. Here, we set to determine whether a deregulated epigenetic pattern is similar in young animals whose mothers' nutrition was modulated during fetal growth to that acquired during normal aging in animals. Using a rodent model of maternal undernutrition (UN) or overnutrition (ON), we examined cytosine methylation profiles of liver from young female offspring and compared them to age-matched young controls and aged (20-month-old) animals. HELP-tagging, a genomewide restriction enzyme and sequencing assay demonstrates that fetal exposure to two different maternal diets is associated with nonrandom dysregulation of methylation levels with profiles similar to those seen in normal aging animals and occur in regions mapped to genes relevant to metabolic diseases and aging. Functional consequences were assessed by gene expression at 9 weeks old with more significant changes at 6 months of age. Early developmental exposures to unfavorable maternal diets result in altered methylation profiles and transcriptional dysregulation in Prkcb, Pc, Ncor2, and Smad3 that is also seen with normal aging. These Notch pathway and lipogenesis genes may be useful for prediction of later susceptibility to chronic disease.

Depot- and sex-specific effects of maternal obesity in offspring's adipose tissue

According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept, alterations of nutrient supply in the fetus or neonate result in long-term programming of individual body weight (BW) setpoint. In particular, maternal obesity, excessive nutrition, and accelerated growth in neonates have been shown to sensitize offspring to obesity. The white adipose tissue may represent a prime target of metabolic programming induced by maternal obesity. In order to unravel the underlying mechanisms, we have developed a rat model of maternal obesity using a high-fat (HF) diet (containing 60% lipids) before and during gestation and lactation. At birth, newborns from obese dams (called HF) were normotrophs. However, HF neonates exhibited a rapid weight gain during lactation, a key period of adipose tissue development in rodents. In males, increased BW at weaning (+30%) persists until 3months of age. Nine-month-old HF male offspring was normoglycemic but showed mild glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and hypercorticosteronemia. Despite no difference in BW and energy intake, HF adult male offspring was predisposed to fat accumulation showing increased visceral (gonadal and perirenal) depots weights and hyperleptinemia. However, only perirenal adipose tissue depot exhibited marked adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia with elevated lipogenic (i.e. sterol-regulated element binding protein 1 (Srebp1), fatty acid synthase (Fas), and leptin) and diminished adipogenic (i.e. peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparγ), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-Hds1)) mRNA levels. By contrast, very few metabolic variations were observed in HF female offspring. Thus, maternal obesity and accelerated growth during lactation program offspring for higher adiposity via transcriptional alterations of visceral adipose tissue in a depot- and sex-specific manner.

Dietary omega-3 but not omega-6 fatty acids down-regulate maternal dyslipidemia induced oxidative stress: A three generation study in rats

BACKGROUND

Maternal nutrition modulates fetal metabolic programming and development later. Maternal dyslipidemia effects on oxidative stress (OS) in offsprings and its modulation by dietary fatty acids over generations remains to be elucidated. The objective of present study was to assess the long-term (three generations) effect of omega-3 fatty acids on OS under dyslipidemia.

METHODS

Weanling female Wistar rats were fed with control diet (7% lard), high fat diet (35% lard, HFL), high fat with fish oil (21% fish oil + 14% lard, HFF), high fat with canola oil (21% canola oil + 14% lard, HFC) and high fat with sunflower oil (21% sunflower oil + 14% lard, HFS). Following 60 days feeding, the female rats were mated with sexually matured males (fed normal chow diet) and continued with the above diet regimen during pregnancy and lactation. The pups after lactation were continued with their maternal diet for 60 days and subjected to mating and feeding trial as above for two generations. Serum lipid profiles, OS markers (lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide release and protein carbonyl) and antioxidant defence enzymes (catalase, SOD, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase) were assessed in serum, liver and uterus of rats fed on experimental and control diets for three generations.

RESULTS

Feeding HFL diet increased blood lipids, OS and lowered the antioxidant enzymes activity in serum, liver and uterus (p < 0.05). The reduction in the antioxidant enzymes in HFL group were higher in third followed by second generation compared to first generation (p < 0.05). Omega-3 fatty acids prevented the dyslipidemia induced loss of antioxidant enzyme activities in serum, liver and uterus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show for the first time that offsprings born to dyslipidemic mothers' exhibit diminished enzymatic antioxidant defence and its progressive reduction in future generation, and dietary omega-3 fatty acids restore the enzymatic antioxidant defence in offsprings and suppress the markers of OS.

Effects of disturbed liver growth and oxidative stress of high-fat diet-fed dams on cholesterol metabolism in offspring mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Changes in nutritional status during gestation and lactation have detrimental effects on offspring metabolism. Several animal studies have shown that maternal high-fat diet (HFD) can predispose the offspring to development of obesity and metabolic diseases, however the mechanisms underlying these transgenerational effects are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the effect of maternal HFD consumption on metabolic phenotype and hepatic expression of involved genes in dams to determine whether any of these parameters were associated with the metabolic outcomes in the offspring.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD: 10% calories from fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD: 45% calories from fat) for three weeks before mating, and during pregnancy and lactation. Dams and their male offspring were studied at weaning.

RESULTS

Dams fed an HFD had significantly higher body and adipose tissue weights and higher serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels than dams fed an LFD. Hepatic lipid levels and mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism, including LXRα, SREBP-2, FXR, LDLR, and ABCG8 were significantly changed by maternal HFD intake. Significantly lower total liver DNA and protein contents were observed in dams fed an HFD, implicating the disturbed liver adaptation in the pregnancy-related metabolic demand. HFD feeding also induced significant oxidative stress in serum and liver of dams. Offspring of dams fed an HFD had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels, which were negatively correlated with liver weights of dams and positively correlated with hepatic lipid peroxide levels in dams.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal HFD consumption induced metabolic dysfunction, including altered liver growth and oxidative stress in dams, which may contribute to the disturbed cholesterol homeostasis in the early life of male mice offspring.

Maternal inflammation during pregnancy and childhood adiposity

OBJECTIVE

Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with offspring obesity. Underlying mechanisms may involve a maternal obesity-mediated proinflammatory state during pregnancy. Maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) level during pregnancy is a biomarker of low-grade systemic inflammation.

METHODS

Among 1,116 mother-child pairs, this study examined associations of maternal second-trimester CRP plasma level, measured by high-sensitivity CRP arrays, with mid-childhood DXA fat mass index (FMI), trunk fat mass index (trunkFMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and early and mid-childhood BMI-z and waist circumference (WC). Main analyses were adjusted for maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle-related characteristics, gestational age at blood draw, and child's age and sex.

RESULTS

Higher maternal CRP level was associated with higher mid-childhood FMI and trunkFMI (adjusted difference: 0.15 kg/m(2) [95% CI: 0.01, 0.29] [P = 0.04] and 0.06 kg/m(2) [95% CI: 0.00, 0.12] [P = 0.06], per SD increment in maternal CRP, respectively), but not FFMI. Higher maternal CRP level was associated with higher early and mid-childhood BMI-z and WC in the basic models [P < 0.05], but these associations attenuated after adjustment for maternal characteristics (adjusted difference in early and mid-childhood BMI-z and WC: 0.05 [95% CI: -0.03, 0.13] [P = 0.20], 0.10 cm [95% CI: -0.17, 0.37] [P = 0.46], 0.07 [95% CI: -0.01, 0.14] [P = 0.09], 0.34 cm [95% CI: -0.25, 0.94] [P = 0.26], per SD increment in maternal CRP, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher second-trimester maternal CRP level was associated with higher mid-childhood overall and central adiposity.

Developmental Programming, a Pathway to Disease

Accumulating evidence suggests that insults occurring during the perinatal period alter the developmental trajectory of the fetus/offspring leading to long-term detrimental outcomes that often culminate in adult pathologies. These perinatal insults include maternal/fetal disease states, nutritional deficits/excess, stress, lifestyle choices, exposure to environmental chemicals, and medical interventions. In addition to reviewing the various insults that contribute to developmental programming and the benefits of animal models in addressing underlying mechanisms, this review focuses on the commonalities in disease outcomes stemming from various insults, the convergence of mechanistic pathways via which various insults can lead to common outcomes, and identifies the knowledge gaps in the field and future directions.

Coenzyme Q10 prevents hepatic fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in a male rat model of poor maternal nutrition and accelerated postnatal growth

BACKGROUND

It is well established that low birth weight and accelerated postnatal growth increase the risk of liver dysfunction in later life. However, molecular mechanisms underlying such developmental programming are not well characterized, and potential intervention strategies are poorly defined.

OBJECTIVES

We tested the hypotheses that poor maternal nutrition and accelerated postnatal growth would lead to increased hepatic fibrosis (a pathological marker of liver dysfunction) and that postnatal supplementation with the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) would prevent this programmed phenotype.

DESIGN

A rat model of maternal protein restriction was used to generate low-birth-weight offspring that underwent accelerated postnatal growth (termed "recuperated"). These were compared with control rats. Offspring were weaned onto standard feed pellets with or without dietary CoQ10 (1 mg/kg body weight per day) supplementation. At 12 mo, hepatic fibrosis, indexes of inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin signaling were measured by histology, Western blot, ELISA, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Hepatic collagen deposition (diameter of deposit) was greater in recuperated offspring (mean ± SEM: 12 ± 2 μm) than in controls (5 ± 0.5 μm) (P < 0.001). This was associated with greater inflammation (interleukin 6: 38% ± 24% increase; P < 0.05; tumor necrosis factor α: 64% ± 24% increase; P < 0.05), lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal, measured by ELISA: 0.30 ± 0.02 compared with 0.19 ± 0.05 μg/mL per μg protein; P < 0.05), and hyperinsulinemia (P < 0.05). CoQ10 supplementation increased (P < 0.01) hepatic CoQ10 concentrations and ameliorated liver fibrosis (P < 0.001), inflammation (P < 0.001), some measures of oxidative stress (P < 0.001), and hyperinsulinemia (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Suboptimal in utero nutrition combined with accelerated postnatal catch-up growth caused more hepatic fibrosis in adulthood, which was associated with higher indexes of oxidative stress and inflammation and hyperinsulinemia. CoQ10 supplementation prevented liver fibrosis accompanied by downregulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperinsulinemia.

The early origins of obesity and insulin resistance: timing, programming and mechanisms

Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus and it also results in an increased risk of giving birth to a large baby with increased fat mass. Furthermore, it is also contributes to an increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance in the offspring in childhood, adolescence and adult life. It has been proposed that exposure to maternal obesity may therefore result in an 'intergenerational cycle' of obesity and insulin resistance. There is significant interest in whether exposure to maternal obesity around the time of conception alone contributes directly to poor metabolic outcomes in the offspring and whether dieting in the obese mother before pregnancy or around the time of conception has metabolic benefits for the offspring. This review focusses on experimental and clinical studies that have investigated the specific impact of exposure to maternal obesity during the periconceptional period alone or extending beyond conception on adipogenesis, lipogenesis and on insulin signalling pathways in the fat, liver and muscle of the offspring. Findings from these studies highlight the need for a better evidence base for the development of dietary interventions in obese women before pregnancy and around the time of conception to maximize the metabolic benefits and minimize the metabolic costs for the next generation.