More fructose in diet during pregnancy impacts metabolism of offspring,
animal study finds

Date:
August 18, 2020
Source:
University of Otago
Summary:
An increased level of fructose intake during pregnancy can
cause significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk
composition and alter the metabolism of their offspring, according
to research in guinea pigs.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An increased level of fructose intake during pregnancy can cause
significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk composition
and alter the metabolism of their offspring, researchers from the
University of Otago, Wellington, have found.


==========================================================================
The research, which was led by Dr Clint Gray, a Research Fellow in
the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, found increasing the
fructose in the diets of female guinea pigs led to highly significant
and consistent changes in the free fatty acids circulating in the blood
of their offspring.

This was despite the offspring consuming no fructose themselves.

The research is published in the international journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.

First author, PhD student Erin Smith, says "previous research has shown
poor quality nutrition during pregnancy can predispose offspring to
long-term consequences, including the development of obesity, diabetes
and cardiovascular disease later in life".

"However, there has been a lack of data examining the impact of increased fructose intake before and during pregnancy and subsequent adverse effects
on lactation, foetal development and offspring metabolic function." The
two experimental groups were fed either a control diet or a fructose diet
prior to and during pregnancy. The fructose group was given supplementary fructose water to replicate increased sugar-sweetened beverage intake 60
days prior to mating and until the delivery of their offspring. Fructose
made up 16.5 per cent of their diets, closely resembling the average
human consumption of fructose/sugar in Western countries, which is
estimated at about 14 per cent of average daily caloric intake.

"We found fructose had a significant impact on a pregnant females'
metabolic status and the free fatty acid content of their milk. We
also provide the first evidence that offspring born from fructose-fed
mothers display a very specific pattern of increased free fatty acids
and altered lipid metabolism that persists throughout early life."
Ms Smith says it is well known that increased levels of circulating
free fatty acids increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance,
type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease - with increased fatty acid synthesis shown to occur following fructose consumption.

She says the evidence suggests suboptimal maternal diets, such as diets
high in fructose and refined sugars, may be contributing to the rise in metabolic diseases in humans observed during the past 40 to 50 years.

"Our study emphasises the importance of limiting added refined fructose,
such as sugar-sweetened beverages, and striving for a more nutritionally balanced diet in women prior to and during pregnancy and lactation."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Otago. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Erin Vanessa LaRae Smith, Rebecca Maree Dyson, Mary Judith Berry,
Clint
Gray. Fructose Consumption During Pregnancy Influences Milk Lipid
Composition and Offspring Lipid Profiles in Guinea Pigs. Frontiers
in Endocrinology, 2020; 11 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00550 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200818094101.htm

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