Sarbattama Sen

Maternal Antioxidant Supplementation Prevents Adiposity in the Offspring of Western Diet–Fed Rats

OBJECTIVE Obesity in pregnancy significantly increases the risk of the offspring developing obesity after birth. The aims of this study were to test the hypothesis that maternal obesity increases oxidative stress during fetal development, and to determine whether administration of an antioxidant supplement to pregnant Western diet-fed rats would prevent the development of adiposity in the offspring. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Female Sprague Dawley rats were started on the designated diet at 4 weeks of age. Four groups of animals were studied: control chow (control); control + antioxidants (control+Aox); Western diet (Western); and Western diet + antioxidants (Western+Aox). The rats were mated at 12 to 14 weeks of age, and all pups were weaned onto control diet. RESULTS Offspring from dams fed the Western diet had significantly increased adiposity as early as 2 weeks of age as well as impaired glucose tolerance compared with offspring of dams fed a control diet. Inflammation and oxidative stress were increased in preimplantation embryos, fetuses, and newborns of Western diet-fed rats. Gene expression of proadipogenic and lipogenic genes was altered in fat tissue of rats at 2 weeks and 2 months of age. The addition of an antioxidant supplement decreased adiposity and normalized glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Inflammation and oxidative stress appear to play a key role in the development of increased adiposity in the offspring of Western diet-fed pregnant dams. Restoration of the antioxidant balance during pregnancy in the Western diet-fed dam is associated with decreased adiposity in offspring.

Lutein and preterm infants with decreased concentrations of brain carotenoids.

Objectives: Lutein and zeaxanthin are dietary carotenoids that may influence visual and cognitive development. The objective of this study was to provide the first data on distribution of carotenoids in the infant brain and compare concentrations in preterm and term infants. Methods: Voluntarily donated brain tissues from 30 infants who died during the first 1.5 years of life were obtained from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Brain and Tissue Bank. Tissues (hippocampus and prefrontal, frontal, auditory, and occipital cortices) were extracted using standard lipid extraction procedures and analyzed using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results: Lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, and &bgr;-carotene were the major carotenoids found in the infant brain tissues. Lutein was the predominant carotenoid accounting for 59% of total carotenoids. Preterm infants (nu200a=u200a8) had significantly lower concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin in their brain compared with term infants (nu200a=u200a22) despite similarity in postmenstrual age. Among formula-fed infants, preterm infants (nu200a=u200a3) had lower concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin compared with term infants (nu200a=u200a5). Brain lutein concentrations were not different between breast milk–fed (nu200a=u200a3) and formula-fed (nu200a=u200a5) term decedents. In contrast, term decedents with measurable brain cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that is inherently low in formula, had higher brain lutein, suggesting that the type of feeding is an important determinant of brain lutein concentrations. Conclusions: These data reveal preferential accumulation and maintenance of lutein in the infant brain despite underrepresentation in the typical infant diet. Further investigation on the impact of lutein on neural development in preterm infants is warranted.

Obesity during Pregnancy and Fetal Iron Status: is Hepcidin the link?

Objective:To ascertain the effect of obesity-related inflammation on maternal and fetal iron status. We hypothesized that obese (Ob) pregnant women would have increased inflammation, hepcidin levels, and that their infants would have impaired iron status compared with lean (Lc) controls.Study Design:Fifteen Ob and fifteen Lc women were recruited in their second trimester of pregnancy. Markers of iron status, inflammation and hepcidin were measured in maternal and cord blood. Students t-test was used to compare Ob and Lc groups, and Pearsons correlation coefficients were determined between maternal and cord blood values.Result:Maternal C-reactive protein (P<0.01) and hepcidin (P<0.01) were higher, and cord blood iron (P<0.01) was lower in the Ob group. Maternal body mass index (P<0.01) and hepcidin (P<0.05) were negatively correlated with cord blood iron status.Conclusion:Maternal obesity is associated with impaired maternal-fetal iron transfer, potentially through hepcidin upregulation.

Obesity during pregnancy alters maternal oxidant balance and micronutrient status

Objective:Little is known about the effect of obesity on inflammatory status in pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and micronutrient status in obese pregnant women and their infants compared with lean controls (Lc).Study Design:This was a prospective case–control study. A total of 15 obese (Ob; body mass index (BMI) >30u2009kgu2009m−2) and 15 lean (BMI 18–25u2009kgu2009m−2) women were recruited based on prepregnancy BMI. Vitamins A, B6, C, E and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), zinc, red blood cell (RBC) folate, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α and oxidized and reduced glutathione were measured from maternal blood between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Vitamins A, B6, C and E, 25(OH)D, zinc, red blood cell folate, CRP and IL-6 were measured from cord blood at delivery.Result:Ob pregnant women have statistically significantly lower levels of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, RBC folate, higher CRP and IL-6 levels and higher ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione compared with Lc pregnant women. Infants born to Ob mothers did not have statistically significantly higher measures of inflammation or oxidative stress. There were no differences in micronutrient concentrations between Lc and Ob infants, but folate, vitamin B6 and zinc levels correlated strongly between mother and infant. There was no statistically significant difference in any parameter between Ob and Lc cord blood.Conclusion:Ob pregnant women have increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and lower levels of nutritional antioxidant defenses compared with Lc pregnant women. We speculate that lower antioxidant defenses combined with increased oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to the adverse outcomes associated with pregnancy in Ob women.

Nutrition, weight gain and eating behavior in pregnancy: A review of experimental evidence for long-term effects on the risk of obesity in offspring

Obesity has reached near epidemic proportions in the developed world. As reproductive age women are a part of this trend, the effect of maternal obesity on the developing fetus must be investigated. In this review, we evaluated the experimental evidence relating maternal nutritional status and eating behavior before and during pregnancy on the risk of obesity in the offspring. The studies were compiled and selected based on their methodologies, study design and relevance. The analyzed studies were compiled to quantify, if possible, the relationship between maternal and offspring weight. Descriptive and observational studies were also included if they were seminal in the field. Based on the current data, maternal obesity is a critical factor exacerbating multigenerational obesity. Mechanistic studies, mainly in animals, have identified potential areas for intervention which might limit transmission of adverse risk factors for obesity from mothers to infants during pregnancy.

The role of systemic inflammation linking maternal BMI to neurodevelopment in children

Children of obese mothers are at increased risk of developmental adversities. Maternal obesity is linked to an inflammatory in utero environment, which, in turn, is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments in the offspring. This is an integrated mechanism review of animal and human literature related to the hypothesis that maternal obesity causes maternal and fetal inflammation, and that this inflammation adversely affects the neurodevelopment of children. We propose integrative models in which several aspects of inflammation are considered along the causative pathway linking maternal obesity with neurodevelopmental limitations.

Obesity impairs cell-mediated immunity during the second trimester of pregnancy

OBJECTIVEnObese pregnancy is associated with significantly higher rates of infection, which can harm both mother and fetus. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on maternal blood immune function.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnThis was a cross-sectional, case control study of 15 obese (Ob) and 15 lean (Lc) subjects. Immune cell subsets, intracellular and serum cytokine production, and lymphocyte proliferation were measured in maternal blood during the second trimester of pregnancy.nnnRESULTSnObese women had a significantly lower proportion of CD8+ and NKT cells and a higher proportion of B cells, impaired cytokine production when stimulated ex vivo, and impaired ability of lymphocytes to proliferate compared with their lean counterparts.nnnCONCLUSIONnObese pregnancy is associated with impaired cell-mediated immunity. Because perinatal infections can have serious maternal and fetal consequences, it is imperative to better understand these mechanistic underpinnings to optimize prevention and devise targeted therapy.

Breastmilk from obese mothers has pro-inflammatory properties and decreased neuroprotective factors

Objective:To determine the impact of maternal obesity on breastmilk composition.Study Design:Breastmilk and food records from 21 lean and 21 obese women who delivered full-term infants were analyzed at 2 months post-partum. Infant growth and adiposity were measured at birth and 2 months of age.Result:Breastmilk from obese mothers had higher omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and lower concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docasapentaenoic acid and lutein compared with lean mothers (P<0.05), which were strongly associated with maternal body mass index. Breastmilk saturated fatty acid and monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations were positively associated with maternal dietary inflammation, as measured by dietary inflammatory index. There were no differences in infant growth measurements.Conclusion:Breastmilk from obese mothers has a pro-inflammatory fatty acid profile and decreased concentrations of fatty acids and carotenoids that have been shown to have a critical role in early visual and neurodevelopment. Studies are needed to determine the link between these early-life influences and subsequent cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Maternal obesity and immune dysregulation in mother and infant: A review of the evidence

Obesity is a worldwide public health epidemic. Increasing numbers of reproductive-age women enter pregnancy overweight or obese and there is now convincing data that this adverse in utero environment impacts both fetal and lifelong development. Epidemiologic evidence has shown a simultaneous increase in obesity and asthma rates in developed countries and maternal obesity is a risk factor for infant asthma and wheeze. Here we review the state of research linking maternal obesity and immunomodulation in both mother and infant, with specific attention to the relationship between maternal obesity and offspring asthma. We will also propose several different mechanisms by which maternal obesity may predispose offspring to this chronic condition and briefly summarize interventions that have been trialed to limit this association.

Dietary Inflammatory Potential during Pregnancy Is Associated with Lower Fetal Growth and Breastfeeding Failure: Results from Project Viva

BACKGROUNDnInflammation during pregnancy has been linked to adverse maternal and infant outcomes. There is limited information available on the contribution of maternal diet to systemic inflammation and pregnancy health.nnnOBJECTIVEnThe objective of this study was to examine associations of maternal prenatal dietary inflammatory index (DII), a composite measure of the inflammatory potential of diet, with markers of maternal systemic inflammation and pregnancy outcomes.nnnMETHODSnWe studied 1808 mother-child pairs from Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort study in Massachusetts. We calculated the DII from first- and second-trimester food-frequency questionnaires by standardizing the dietary intakes of participants to global means, which were multiplied by the inflammatory effect score and summed. We examined associations of DII with maternal plasma C-reactive protein and white blood cell count in the second trimester and the following perinatal outcomes: gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, length of gestation, fetal growth, mode of delivery, and duration of breastfeeding. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to analyze the strength of these associations.nnnRESULTSnMaternal age was (mean ± SD) 32.2 ± 5.0 y, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) was 24.9 ± 5.2, and DII was -2.56 ± 1.42 units with a range of -5.4 to 3.7. DII was positively correlated with prepregnancy BMI (Pearsonsr= 0.13,P< 0.0001). Higher DII scores, reflecting more proinflammatory dietary potential, were associated with higher second-trimester plasma CRP (β: 0.08 mg/L per 1-unit increase in maternal DII; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.14) and lower birth weight for gestational agezscore in infants born to obese mothers (β: -0.10zscore per 1-unit increase in maternal DII; 95% CI: -0.18, -0.02). Higher DII scores were associated with lower odds of breastfeeding for at least 1 mo (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.98).nnnCONCLUSIONnA proinflammatory diet during pregnancy is associated with maternal systemic inflammation and may be associated with impaired fetal growth and breastfeeding failure.